Kamui Wakka Water Fall in Shiretoko !

by Kazu

It had been several years since we visited Shiretoko Peninsula last time. Because of the pandemic of covid-19 virus from Wuhan, China, this popular destination as the World Heritage of UNESCO was not swamped with a hectic amount of tourists last summer. The hot spring water fall "Kamuiwakka" was also reachable by individual automobile. Usually the method of the access to the waterfall is limited to the official bus from the Nature Center on Utoro side of Shiretoko Pass. 

Before the landslide that had closed the way to the peak of the waterfall, tourists could go up to much higher place of the waterfall. The slightly acidic hot water prevent moss and plants from growing on the river bed.    

So it is much safer to walk on the center line of the river because the part is not slippery, different from the normal river flow. If you have chaps on your hand or foot, the water bring you pains on the parts. Please do not rub your eyes with your hands while river trekking.   

Bare foot or straw sandals called "Waraji" in Japanese, is recommendable to walk up the hot spring river. Some water pools like bathtubs are on the upperside of the waterfall.  Okhotsk Ocean could be seen from the natural bathtubs before but it is prohibited to go up to the points nowadays. The nature world changes its countenances and shapes. It's true but I wanted to save the attractive actiivity in the natural space.