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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Waterfall Purification Experience in Uchiko
Stand beneath a 17-meter-high waterfall and let its powerful spray cleanse your body and mind
Uchiko Town, Ehime Prefecture
Standing under the cold, refreshing spray of a waterfall has long been practiced in Japan as a way to cleanse the body and mind. This special activity can be experienced in Misogi Village of Uchiko Town, located in the middle of Shikoku’s Ehime Prefecture. The name Misogi comes from an ancient tale of a saint who once purified himself in the river here.
The experience begins with detoxifying the body by drinking the juice from a jabara, a kind of citrus similar to yuzu whose name means “warding off evil” in Japanese. A local guide will then show you around the village before leading you to the Momiji-ga-taki waterfall. After changing into traditional white attire, step into the waterfall basin, stand under the waterfall spray cascading 17 meters down, and feel your worries wash away.
Towels and river boots will be provided, so all you need are a swimsuit and a change of clothes. You’ll receive a protective charm which has grains of locally grown rice inside to take home as a keepsake of this unforgettable experience. This program was created by local residents in hopes that visitors could also be refreshed by this waterfall, which has long been cherished by the community.
How to get there
From Shin-Osaka Station, take the Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama Station (about 45 minutes). From there, take the JR Limited Express to Matsuyama Station (about 2 hours and 45 minutes), then take the JR Limited Express to Uchiko Station (about 30 minutes). A 15-minute drive by car will take you to the Misogi-no-sato meeting spot.
456 Tadaumi, Uchiko-cho, Kita-gun, Ehime-ken (Community space Misogi-no-sato: Meeting Spot）
