いかり・Ikari
This is one of Kawakami’s most remote hamlets, and making a visit out here it makes one wonder what motivated its first settlers to come out this far away from the Yoshino River. The scenery here is stunning and there is much to enjoy in this area.
At the foot of the hamlet is a complex known as 井光の里. Because the Yoshino river is blocked by dams and the ecosystems of fish have been disrupted, it is up to humans to raise fish and release them in the river.
One of the main fisheries of the village is located here. The staff are kind and will be glad to show you how the fish are raised. There are small pools here where children can go fishing and BBQs on site that can be rented with a small admission fee.
Beyond Ikari no Sato 井光の里 if you continue along the road you will eventually find a trailhead to one of Kawakami’s most pristine waterfalls, Mifune no Taki 御船の滝.
The waterfall can be accessed in just a few hundred meters. The path up to it is lined by an old wooden pathway. It is beautiful and the moss adds to the magic of the atmosphere here but be careful because many of the boards are rotted out.
With its easy access and relatively short hiking time, the waterfall is a major attraction in winter months when it often becomes completely frozen.
