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Giant Icicles! The Mystical Art of the Frozen Nanajo Otaki Waterfall
Have you ever heard of a "hyobaku," or a frozen waterfall? In the intense cold, a waterfall freezes as if time has stopped, creating a work of icy art that only nature can produce. Hokkaido has several spots where you can see these spectacular frozen waterfalls, and today we'll introduce you to Nanajo Otaki Waterfall, located about an hour's drive from Sapporo.
Nanajo Otaki is located on the outskirts of Tomakomai City, near Lake Shikotsu. You'll find a national forest along National Route 453, and you'll walk along the Daiichi Judan Forest Road within it to reach the falls. The Nanajo Otaki entrance parking lot at the forest road entrance is not cleared of snow, so it's best to use the free parking area located a short distance to the south.
Furthermore, there is a gate at the entrance of the forest road that is always closed, so you might wonder, "Am I really allowed to enter?" While cars are prohibited, it's fine to enter on foot. Go past the gate and walk along the forest road.
When we visited, the road happened to be cleared of snow, but we've heard that this isn't always the case, so it might be a good idea to prepare snowshoes. After walking for about 20 minutes, you'll see a small sign.
There are two of these signs before you reach the waterfall. Follow the arrows, and the falls will be just ahead. ...However, the real challenge starts from here!
To get close to Nanajo Otaki, you have to descend into a large valley. There are usually stairs here, but they disappear under the snow. The path is packed down by other visitors, turning it into something like a slide!
Some parts are quite steep, so please be extremely careful as you make your way down. Once you conquer this final obstacle, a spectacular, rewarding view will unfold before your eyes.
You can probably tell from the photo just how incredibly powerful the frozen Nanajo Otaki Waterfall is. To be precise, the waterfall itself isn't completely frozen, but the icicles and ice pillars that form around it create a truly mystical atmosphere.
Locally, it's also known as the "Ice Palace," and indeed, you can feel a palace-like majesty from it.
Where the water spray has frozen, and where droplets seeping from the rocks have frozen. If you look closely, you can see a collection of various ice formations, making you feel as if you're witnessing the wonders of nature firsthand.
It's a moment where you're simply overwhelmed by the art woven by nature, forgetting the cold. There are some challenges to visiting, like walking on snow and descending into a valley, but it's well worth the effort to overcome them.
And to show you the power of seeing it up close, we've also included a video. Please take a look!
Please make sure you're fully prepared and give it a try.
＜Nanajo Otaki Waterfall＞
Location: Maruyama, Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Nanajo Otaki is located on the outskirts of Tomakomai City, near Lake Shikotsu. You'll find a national forest along National Route 453, and you'll walk along the Daiichi Judan Forest Road within it to reach the falls. The Nanajo Otaki entrance parking lot at the forest road entrance is not cleared of snow, so it's best to use the free parking area located a short distance to the south.
Furthermore, there is a gate at the entrance of the forest road that is always closed, so you might wonder, "Am I really allowed to enter?" While cars are prohibited, it's fine to enter on foot. Go past the gate and walk along the forest road.
When we visited, the road happened to be cleared of snow, but we've heard that this isn't always the case, so it might be a good idea to prepare snowshoes. After walking for about 20 minutes, you'll see a small sign.
There are two of these signs before you reach the waterfall. Follow the arrows, and the falls will be just ahead. ...However, the real challenge starts from here!
To get close to Nanajo Otaki, you have to descend into a large valley. There are usually stairs here, but they disappear under the snow. The path is packed down by other visitors, turning it into something like a slide!
Some parts are quite steep, so please be extremely careful as you make your way down. Once you conquer this final obstacle, a spectacular, rewarding view will unfold before your eyes.
You can probably tell from the photo just how incredibly powerful the frozen Nanajo Otaki Waterfall is. To be precise, the waterfall itself isn't completely frozen, but the icicles and ice pillars that form around it create a truly mystical atmosphere.
Locally, it's also known as the "Ice Palace," and indeed, you can feel a palace-like majesty from it.
Where the water spray has frozen, and where droplets seeping from the rocks have frozen. If you look closely, you can see a collection of various ice formations, making you feel as if you're witnessing the wonders of nature firsthand.
It's a moment where you're simply overwhelmed by the art woven by nature, forgetting the cold. There are some challenges to visiting, like walking on snow and descending into a valley, but it's well worth the effort to overcome them.
And to show you the power of seeing it up close, we've also included a video. Please take a look!
Please make sure you're fully prepared and give it a try.
＜Nanajo Otaki Waterfall＞
Location: Maruyama, Tomakomai, Hokkaido
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Hokkaido Tourism Camera-Writer
Team Buchineko
We are "Team Buchineko," with many connections to tourist spots and facilities in Hokkaido. Even things that seem ordinary to us living in Hokkaido are wonderful resources. We will continue to share the charm of this wonderful Hokkaido.
