HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > The Cloud Waterfalls at Shiori Pass
A spectacular sight you must see at least once in your life
Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
Takigumo—literally, “waterfall clouds”—are a natural phenomenon you can see at Shiori Pass in the mountains east of Uonuma City. These Cloud Waterfalls occur when clouds accumulate and tumble over the mountains, forming cascades of cloud that resemble waterfalls. It’s a mysterious spectacle that gives you a firsthand sense of the majesty of nature.
Fog forms over two nearby bodies of water, Lake Okutadami and Ginzandaira, and accumulates in the surrounding mountain valley. The clouds that fill the valley eventually flow over the mountain ridge, forming the Cloud Waterfalls.
It is recommended that you arrive at the lookout point at Shiori Pass at daybreak. The clouds often disappear within 1 to 2 hours after sunrise. Note also that the roads leading to Shiori Pass are closed during the winter.
Certain conditions determine if the Cloud Waterfalls will appear: time of day, weather, and temperature difference from the previous day (the greater the difference, the better). But even when these conditions are met, there is no guarantee that it will happen. Luck is also an important condition for seeing the Cloud Waterfalls.
How to get there
The destination is 50 minutes by car via the Okutadami Silver Line from Koide Interchange on the Kan-etsu Expressway.
Utsuno, Uonuma-shi, Niigata-ken
