【Yamagata】A waterfall flowing from the rocky area behind a shrine!

Located deep in the mountains of Yusa Town, at the foot of Mount Chokai in Yamagata Prefecture, "Dohara Falls" (Dohara no Taki) is a serene and picturesque destination. A shrine is enshrined halfway up the mountain, and from the rocky area behind it, spring water from Mount Chokai gushes out and flows down, forming two waterfalls that cascade on either side of the shrine. The name "Dohara" comes from the resemblance of the water gushing out from the mountainside to a "dohara" (belly). The waterfall has a drop of about 3 meters. Depending on the season or rainfall, the water volume varies, and during my visit, it was slightly modest. Nevertheless, the abundance of negative ions makes it a wonderfully refreshing spot! The shrine houses a statue of Fudo Myo-o, and the moss-covered rocks at the base of the waterfall are adorned with various Buddhist sculptures. There is a free water-drawing station at the base of the waterfall, where locals frequently come to collect fresh spring water. ＜Dohara Falls＞ 📍Location: Yoshide, Yusa Town, Akumi District, Yamagata Prefecture 💰Admission free, water collection free (bringing your own bottles is recommended) 🅿️Free parking (Note: No public restrooms available) 🚗Access: About 10 minutes by car from JR Yusa Station, about 20 minutes by car from Sakata Minato IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway, and about 20 minutes by car from Maruike-sama.