Kawazu Nanadaru (Seven Waterfalls) Trail

The Kawazu Nanadaru trail follows the Kawazu River gorge through a chain of seven named waterfalls in Kawazu Town on the eastern Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka. The nearest access point is Kawazu Station on the Izu Kyuko Line, from which a Tokai bus toward Amagi-toge reaches the Kawazu Nanadaru-guchi or Nanadaru Loop Bridge stop at the trail's northern end; drivers can use the roadside car parks near Ebidaru or the Loop Bridge. The route between the falls covers about 1.3km one way, following paved and wooden-boardwalk paths with stone steps down into the gorge, gaining and losing roughly 100m cumulatively. No technical skill is required; grades are gentle and the walk suits casual visitors, though spray from the falls keeps stairs slick. The seven falls, from Shokei-no-taki (Wedding Falls) down to Kani-no-taki, are linked by a well-marked forest path shaded by subtropical greenery and the original Kawazu-zakura cherry cultivar, first found growing wild near here. A footbath at Ebidaru midway along the route offers a rest stop, and the giant Loop Bridge at the trail's head is itself a notable engineering landmark, spiralling the road up the valley wall. There is no need for a turn-around decision on safety grounds; the full route can be walked in either direction, though most visitors start at the Kawazu Station side and finish near the Loop Bridge or vice versa. Toilets and vending machines are available near the trailhead and at a rest facility partway along; no mountain hut or shelter is present, but the entire route stays close to the road and settlements, so bailing out at any point is straightforward.