Tateshina Otaki Falls is a well-kept secret. Just a few steps away from Tateshina resort area, this magical spot still manages to stay off the tourist beaten track.

It only takes 10 minutes to get to destination, but the journey through the woods is every bit as enthralling as the crystalline waterfall waiting at the end. The lush forest which grows around Otaki Falls looks ancient and sacral, with massive centenarian trees perched on rocks, their gnarly roots exposed, and a thick layer of moss enveloping everything in an emerald grasp.