Have you been feeling worn out by work, study, or chores, or by thinking too much about relationships, your career, your future, or your family?
If you are looking for a way to reset or to move past your worries, a traditional practice in northern Kyoto may interest you.
As saunas remain popular in Japan, takigyo, a traditional practice of standing under a waterfall, is attracting attention as another way to experience totonou, the deeply refreshed and balanced state described by sauna enthusiasts.
This experience is open to first-timers, including those who feel a little nervous but are curious to try it.
In Amanohashidate, a scenic destination in northern Kyoto, you can try takigyo at Kanabiki Falls. This guide introduces a takigyo and sauna experience in which you can warm up slowly in a sauna afterward.
It also introduces accommodations in the area, including a place that offers the experience together with a stay, for those planning a memorable trip with someone special.
What Is Takigyo?
Takigyo is a form of spiritual training rooted in mountain worship that incorporates elements of Shinto, Buddhism, and Taoism.
Water has long been associated with purification in Japan, and standing under a strong, cold waterfall has traditionally been believed to cleanse the body and mind of distractions and impurities.
During takigyo, participants give thanks for the waterfall and reflect deeply on themselves. This reflection can lead to a resolve to act toward their goals, which is why the practice is also associated with the fulfillment of wishes.
Takigyo as a Way to Refresh Body and Mind
Takigyo may also leave you feeling refreshed, both mentally and physically.
Many people feel anxious before stepping in, wondering how cold the water will be or whether the falling water will hurt.
Overcoming that fear and stepping under the falls can be a way of pushing past your own limits.
After the initial shock, you gradually adjust to the cold and force of the water and begin to focus on your own thoughts, a process many find unusual and deeply spiritual.
Afterward, you may feel a sense of refreshment, as if your worries and everyday stress had been washed away.
Physically, the cold water can also feel invigorating.
It is popular enough to attract repeat participants, some of whom say the experience gave them more emotional composure or the confidence to try new things.
Like yoga and meditation, it can be one way for busy people to take a mental break.
The Appeal of Kanabiki Falls
Kanabiki Falls is about 15 minutes by car south of Amanohashidate Station and just under 10 minutes from Miyazu Station.
An abundant flow of water runs down the granite rock face throughout the year. The falls are about 40 meters high and about 20 meters wide.
The water divides into two streams. The right side, as you face the falls, is called Odaki (the male falls), and the left side is called Medaki (the female falls).
Downstream are the Hakuryu Falls and the Garyu Falls, and together they are known as Kanabiki Falls.
The plunge pool is shallow, so you can get very close to the falls, and in summer children play in the water to cool off.
Popular with both local residents and visitors, the falls are a natural spiritual destination that can easily be combined with a trip to Amanohashidate.
| Kanabiki Falls Address: Takima, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture Phone: 0772-22-8030 (Amanohashidate Station Tourist Information Center) Hours: Open 24 hours for walking and sightseeing Closed: No regular closing days Website (Japanese): https://www.amanohashidate.jp/spot/kanabiki/ |
From Prayer to Takigyo
Before takigyo begins, a Shinto priest performs a prayer ritual while you offer a sakaki branch. During the ritual, you express gratitude for the opportunity and pray that you will complete the practice safely.
The name of the sakaki tree is said to come from words meaning “boundary tree,” referring to the boundary between the realm of the gods and that of people. Because it stays green throughout the year, it is also associated with prosperity and is considered sacred.
After the ritual, it is time to step under the falls.
First-timers may be surprised by the cold and force of the water and find it hard to breathe steadily, so take a deep breath and relax your body before entering.
Feeling the cold water and the force of the falls can give you a strong sense of the power of nature.
Personal beliefs or a protective charm can offer mental support. It may help to think of a person, object, or presence that gives you strength.
As you listen to the water striking your body and to your own breathing, you gradually adjust and can begin to reflect on your thoughts.
By the end, the worries on your mind may feel a little lighter, and you may find yourself feeling grateful for the nature around you.
Important
Because of the strong force of the falls, children under junior high school age and pregnant women cannot participate. Those who are intoxicated, unwell, extremely short on sleep, or who have a chronic condition or illness also cannot participate.
Bring sandals, a bath towel, a drink, and a change of clothes as needed. The white robe worn during takigyo becomes see-through when wet, so please bring a rash guard or T-shirt to wear underneath.
Good preparation will help you make the most of this rare experience.
After Takigyo, Warm Up in the Sauna
After takigyo, rest for a while and rehydrate before enjoying the sauna.
Slowly warming your chilled body in the sauna brings a deep sense of satisfaction. Once you are used to the heat, you can pour water over the stones for löyly to increase it.
When you are thoroughly hot, step out of the sauna for outdoor air bathing. Cooling off with water and looking up at the trees can bring a sense of accomplishment and connection with nature.
The takigyo and sauna experience at Kanabiki Falls offers a chance to feel the power of nature and see yourself in a new way, and it may leave you feeling refreshed.
A program is also offered in which you warm up in a tent sauna and then use the falls themselves as a cold plunge. The area around the plunge pool of the roughly 40-meter falls is shallow, so you can walk into the water.
The heat of the sauna, the cold water from the falls, and outdoor air bathing surrounded by trees make for a very different experience from an artificial cold plunge.
The program is generally offered from October to April, but its content and schedule may change. Before applying, check the latest information on the Amanohashidate Tourism Association website (Japanese).
Recommended Places to Stay in Amanohashidate, Kyoto
Finally, here are some recommended places to stay in the Amanohashidate area before or after takigyo.
They include accommodations where you can enjoy the local ingredients of northern Kyoto and relax in a hot spring in private.
Miyazu Harbor: A Bayside Stay After the Falls
Miyazu Harbor is located on Miyazu Bay, about 10 minutes by car from Kanabiki Falls via Miyazu Station.
It offers private villas with a pool and glamping-style dining, making it suitable for gatherings with friends, parties, and trips with relatives.
You can enjoy the sound of the waves and the scent of the sea up close, and the sunset over the sky and the bay is especially striking.
Miyazu Harbor offers a BBQ menu with premium ingredients from the Amanohashidate area, such as Japanese Black wagyu beef and abalone, as well as a winter crab plan featuring fresh crab.
In northern Kyoto, the crab fishing season begins in early November. The crab plan includes a full course of crab sashimi, grilled crab, crab shabu-shabu, and crab hot pot, and it is popular enough to attract repeat guests year after year.
It can make a special treat for yourself or a celebration with someone special.
Draft beer servers are also available in the villas, with up to 6 liters provided per villa, and the beer pairs well with the local seafood of Miyazu.
| Miyazu Harbor Address: 405-7 Namiji, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture Phone: 050-3161-4571 (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) Official website (Japanese): https://www.m-harbor.jp/ |
MEZZO ALL SUITE VILLAS: A Hot Spring Stay Within Walking Distance of Amanohashidate Station
MEZZO ALL SUITE VILLAS is about 10 minutes by car from Kanabiki Falls.
It offers convenient access to popular sights such as Amanohashidate View Land and Kasamatsu Park, making it suitable for those who want to explore the area thoroughly.
Each villa is a private rental with a private pool and an open-air bath using the silver hot spring, making it especially suitable for hot spring lovers and those who want a special time in a private space.
Guests can also enjoy a BBQ with seafood and mountain produce from the Amanohashidate area, or the Crab Marché plan, which features premium branded live crab.
It is a convenient base for enjoying seasonal food and hot springs.
| MEZZO ALL SUITE VILLAS Address: 1058-13 Mannen, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture Phone: 050-3161-4573 (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) Official website: https://en.mezzo-allsuite.com/ |
The Miyazu area has many other accommodations, including Amanohashidate Rikyu Hoshino-Oto, where skilled chefs serve creative cuisine and two types of hot springs can be enjoyed in private, and Auberge Villa SOSO, with a private dining area where families with small children can enjoy creative cuisine in comfort.
See the following article for details.
Summary
This guide introduced the takigyo and sauna experience at Kanabiki Falls in Amanohashidate, Kyoto.
Those who are busy with work, chores, or study often have little time to reflect.
If you have been feeling stuck or want a fresh start, takigyo may offer a chance to notice something new about yourself.
The Amanohashidate area has many other attractions. See the following articles for more when planning your visit.
Discover More About the Amanohashidate Area
-
Amanohashidate Guide: What Makes Japan’s Famous Sandbar Special, the Five Great Views, Access, Food, and Seasons
-
[Kyoto] The Ine Boat Houses: Scenery, Food, Where to Stay and How to Get There
-
[Kyoto Amanohashidate] Michi-no-Eki Umi-no-Kyoto Miyazu: Limited-Edition Souvenirs and Local Food Worth the Stop
