Azumako Falls

 

The Azumako Falls are located on the Kurose River as it heads south through Higashihiroshima.

It is not a very deep waterfall, with a 15 meter drop followed by a second 5 meters drop.

It splits into two falls, the eastern one called Metaki and the western one Otaki.

It is however somewhat dramatic because of its width, and more like the kind of waterfall you would have to head into the mountains to find.

There is a legend connected to the falls.

In 1180, following his defeat by the Taira, Minamoto no Yorimasa committed suicide in Uji.

His concubine fled west with his three-year-old son.

While stopped here at the waterfall, the child died and his mother composed a poem that gave the waterfall its current name.

It s said the grave of the child lies just to the west of the falls.

The previous post in this series on day 14 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage, was on the nearby, impressive Mitsujo Keyhole Tomb.

This was my last stop for the day as my room for the night was nearby.