Nomizo Falls and Kameiwa Cave

Located within Shimizu Keiryu Hiroba in Kimitsu City, Nomizo Falls and Kameiwa Cave are among the finest scenic spots in the Boso Peninsula, made famous in recent years through social media. Water from the Sasa River flows down through a cave that was dug by hand in the Edo period to draw water for farming. In the early morning, light streaming from deep inside the cave reflects on the water surface, and the moment when light and shadow overlap to look like a heart shape feels like something out of a fantasy world.

Highlights

• When conditions align, the light streaming through Kameiwa Cave and its reflection on the water surface form a heart shape.
• Wrapped in green moss and the murmur of the stream, the ravine has a mysterious atmosphere reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli film.
• The scenery known widely as Nomizo Falls is, strictly speaking, a conflation of two features: the water flowing through the man-made Kameiwa Cave, and the true Nomizo Falls a little downstream. Visiting both lets you enjoy the difference in their character.
• Well-maintained walking paths let you stroll at a relaxed pace while enjoying a forest bath.

Seasonal Highlights

The light is said to look most like a heart shape in the early morning around the spring and autumn equinoxes. The fresh green of spring, the deep green of summer, the autumn foliage and the snow-dusted winter each show a different face. The quiet hours when morning mist rises are especially magical. In summer you may also see fireflies, making early-summer dusk another of its attractions.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Shii-no-ki, Sasa, Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture
• By car: It is convenient to drive from the Kisarazu-Higashi IC on the Ken-O Expressway or the Kimitsu IC on the Tateyama Expressway, via National Route 410 and Prefectural Route 24.
• Public transport: About 10 minutes by taxi from Kazusa-Kameyama Station on the JR Kururi Line. Service is infrequent, so check in advance.
• Parking: Free parking is available (over 100 spaces across several lots).
• From the entrance of the plaza it is about a 10-minute walk along the path to the falls. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: To aim for the heart-shaped light, target the periods around the spring and autumn equinoxes, in the early morning a little after sunrise. At that hour there are fewer people and the light conditions are more likely to align.
• Time needed: About 30 minutes to an hour for a walk and photos, or around an hour and a half if you take your time enjoying the forest.
• Nearby spots: By car you can extend your trip to Lake Kameyama, the mountains of the Boso Peninsula around Kimitsu, or the coast toward Kamogawa. Dining options nearby are limited, so it is safer to eat around the Kisarazu area.
• Budget feel: Both entry and parking are free. Aside from transport, it costs almost nothing, so it is easy to enjoy casually.

A Word of Advice

To aim for the heart-shaped light, the early morning a little after sunrise is best. The ground can get muddy, so visit in non-slip shoes. Many people set up tripods to take photos, so it is a spot to enjoy while being considerate of one another.

📚 Sources

This article is compiled from public information from Kimitsu City and the Kimitsu City Tourism Association on the Shimizu Keiryu Square where Nomizo Falls and Kameiwa Cave are located, guidance on the walking paths and parking, and on-site information conveying how the name became mixed with Nomizo Falls. Parking arrangements and the condition of the walking paths may change, so please confirm fees, hours, and access with official sources before you set out. Please also refer to on-site signboards.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About 30 minutes to an hour for a stroll and photos, or around an hour and a half for a leisurely forest bath.
• What to bring and prepare: The ground can get muddy, so wear non-slip shoes. Check the sunrise time if you are after early light, and a tripod is handy for photography.
• Suggested route: Walk about 10 minutes along the path from the entrance of Shimizu Keiryu Square, and stroll to see both Kameiwa Cave and Nomizo Falls downstream. By car you can extend to Lake Kameyama, the Boso hills of Kimitsu, and the coast toward Kamogawa.
• Best for the view: The heart-shaped light is easiest to see in the early morning around the spring and autumn equinoxes, when there are few people and the light conditions come together.