Goto no Taki: a Five Tiered Waterfall in the Sasaguri Gorge

In the town of Sasaguri in Fukuoka, set within a scenic gorge also called the Sasaguri ravine, Goto no Taki is the grandest and most abundant of Sasaguri's waterfalls. It is said to be named for the way the water cascades over five layers of rock, recalling a five-storied pagoda. The total drop reaches about 20 meters.

Beside the falls stands a hall whose main image is the Horse-Headed Kannon, still gathering the prayers of pilgrims as the 70th sacred site, Goto no Taki Kannon-do, on the Sasaguri Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage closely linked to Kobo Daishi. With a clear plunge pool ringed by rich forest, it is a soothing, lesser-known power spot.

Highlights

• The powerful sight of water falling in five distinct tiers
• A hall enshrining the Horse-Headed Kannon, where the faith of the Sasaguri pilgrimage (70th site) lives on
• A crystal-clear plunge pool and the seasonal nature that frames it
• The gorge scenery known as the Sasaguri ravine

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring brings fresh greenery mirrored in the pool, summer the cool of shade, and autumn vivid foliage, so the changing seasons can be enjoyed in brilliant color. As a waterfall with plentiful flow, it looks all the more powerful after rain, and in summer the felt temperature drops below the city, drawing those seeking natural coolness.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Sasaguri, Kasuya District, Fukuoka
• By rail and foot or car: About 10 minutes by car from Chikuzen-Yamate Station on the JR Sasaguri Line, or about 40 minutes on foot. You can use the parking (about ten spaces) at the 70th site, Goto no Taki Kannon-do, from which the falls are just a short walk
• Hours: Open all day (daytime viewing recommended for safety)
• Admission: Free

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: Early summer greenery and autumn foliage are best. Visiting in daylight, when sunlight filters in, makes the contrast between the falls and the surrounding color stand out
• Avoiding crowds: This is a hidden spot with relatively few visitors; outside autumn weekends you can often face the falls in quiet
• Time needed: About 30 minutes to an hour from the parking to view the falls; allow half a day if combining it with other Sasaguri pilgrimage sites and waterfalls
• Real nearby spots: Sasaguri is dotted with pilgrimage sites and waterfalls, including Nanzoin (famous for its reclining Buddha). Combining a waterfall tour with the pilgrimage makes for a day unique to Sasaguri
• Budget sense: Viewing is free; even with a pilgrimage circuit and a meal, a day trip stays modest

A Quick Tip

The path to the falls runs through nature, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Some spots grow slippery when wet, so take extra care after rain. The fresh-green and autumn-foliage seasons are especially photogenic, so bring a camera for a memorable shot.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About 30 minutes to an hour to view the falls and the Goto no Taki Kannon hall. Allow half a day if you add nearby pilgrimage sites and other falls.
• What to bring: The path to the falls can be wet and slippery underfoot, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Mountain valleys can be chilly, so dress for the season.
• Suggested route: After viewing the falls and Kannon hall, combine Nanzoin, famed for its reclining Buddha, and the sacred sites of the Sasaguri Shikoku 88 for a day of falls and pilgrimage true to Sasaguri.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Hours and fees: Open to visitors at any time, free of charge. For safety, visit during daylight hours
• Address: Oaza Kanade, Sasaguri Town, Kasuya District, Fukuoka Prefecture (the address of the 70th temple of the pilgrimage is Kanade 3244-9)
• Access (car): About 5 minutes upstream by car from Narubuchi Dam. From Chikuzen-Yamate Station on the JR Sasaguri Line (Fukuhoku Yutaka Line) it is about 10 minutes by car
• Access (on foot): About a 40-minute walk from Chikuzen-Yamate Station on the JR Sasaguri Line (Fukuhoku Yutaka Line)
• Parking: 10 spaces
• Toilets: A multipurpose toilet is available
• Goshuin seal stamps: The goshuin for Goto no Taki Kannon-do can be received inside the hall. The hours and the fee for the stamp are not published, so if you particularly want to receive one, check in advance with the Sasaguri Town Tourism Association (092-947-1880, open 9:00-17:00, irregular closing days)
• How long to allow: 30 minutes to 1 hour to see the waterfall and the Kannon hall, or half a day if you also visit other temples of the Sasaguri Shikoku pilgrimage and nearby waterfalls
• Footwear and clothing: The waterfall is close to the car park, but parts of the riverside are wet and slippery. Wear comfortable walking shoes and take particular care after rain. It can be chilly in the valley, so bring a layer suited to the season
• Strollers and wheelchairs: You can drive close to the car park and the multipurpose toilet, but the area around the plunge pool is natural rock and dirt paths. Getting right up to the falls with a stroller or wheelchair is difficult, so enjoy the visit within comfortable limits
• In rainy weather: There is no building to shelter in. Rain increases the volume of water and makes the falls more impressive, but it also makes the footing slippery. When the rain is heavy, do not push on; switching to another sight such as Nanzoin, known for its reclining Buddha, is one option
• Avoiding the crowds: With only 10 parking spaces, the car park is small, so during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons it is safer to visit outside peak hours
• Fires and camping: Sasaguri Town prohibits overnight camping at places such as Jugei no Mori Park and the Narubuchi Dam Observatory Plaza, and at the Narubuchi Dam Observatory Plaza the use of fire and barbecues has been banned entirely since April 1 in the 7th year of Reiwa (2025). For overnight camping, please use the Wakasugi Rakuen campsite
• Budget guide: Visiting is free of charge. Even including the pilgrimage temples and meals, a day trip here can make for a full day at little expense
• Enquiries: Sasaguri Town Hall, Industry and Tourism Division, 092-947-1217

📚 Sources

Information on Goto Falls can be confirmed through public sources from Sasaguri Town and on-site guidance, and public information is also helpful for the sacred sites of the Sasaguri Shikoku 88 and for Nanzoin. Worship and viewing hours and access conditions may change, so please confirm with official sources before you set out.

The drop of about 20 meters, the location, the access of about 5 minutes upstream by car from Narubuchi Dam and about a 40-minute walk from Chikuzen-Yamate Station, the 10 parking spaces and the multipurpose toilet, the reference in the Chikuzen no Kuni Zoku Fudoki to a villa of the lord of the Kuroda domain, and the restrictions on fires and camping at nearby facilities were checked on the tourist spot pages of the official website of Sasaguri Town. That the principal image of the 70th temple, Goto no Taki Kannon-do, is Bato Kannon, that it was invited from Motoyamaji, the 70th temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage, and is the only such image in the Sasaguri pilgrimage, the relocation from near Jugei no Mori and the rebuilding in the 9th year of Heisei after a fire, the tradition of the hall's keepers descending from Furuya Tosuke, one of the six founding figures alongside the founder Fujiki Tosuke, the fact that the goshuin can be received inside the hall, and the roughly 10 minutes by car from Chikuzen-Yamate Station, come from the temple introduction pages on the official website of the Sasaguri Town Tourism Association. Visiting hours and access conditions are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.