Meren, rivieren en watervallen in Niigata

Japan's Water Wonders

Niigata Prefecture features a diverse array of water landscapes, ranging from the high-altitude Lake Okutadami, Japan's largest artificial reservoir by volume, to the coastal waterfalls of Sado Island. This collection includes Ramsar-recognized wetlands like Lake Hyōko and Fukushimagata, which serve as vital migratory stops for tundra swans and rare aquatic plants. The list also highlights the dramatic 80-meter Soutaki falls in Myoko and various secluded mountain ponds and reservoirs that define the region's rugged topography and hydroelectric history.

Japan's Water Wonders — Kaart

Cp9asngf / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Lake Hyōko

Lake Hyōko is a 281-hectare reservoir area in the city of Agano, Niigata, Japan.

Bakkai / CC-BY-SA-3.0

B

Kamo-ko

Lake Kamo is a brackish lake on the Sado Island in the Sea of Japan off the west coast of Honshu, Japan.

Drph17 / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

The Fukushimagata Lagoon

A large wetland in Niigata City that serves as a habitat for hundreds of bird species and the northernmost growing site of the Euryale ferox water lily.

D

五重滝

Multi-tiered mountain waterfall located in the scenic Uonuma region.

E

釜段ノ滝

Waterfall situated along the rugged terrain near the Kiyotsu River.

F

惣滝

Designated as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls, this 80-meter cascade is located near the Tsubame Onsen area in Myoko.

G

不動滝

Mountain waterfall in Uonuma often associated with local religious traditions.

H

二俣ノ滝

A split waterfall located deep within the Minamiuonuma mountain range.

I

夫婦滝

A pair of adjacent falls in the Uonuma area, traditionally referred to as 'husband and wife' waterfalls.

J

西不動滝

Small mountain waterfall located in the Minamiuonuma district.

K

カグラ滝

High-altitude waterfall situated near the Kagura ski fields.

L

魚止ノ滝

Waterfall in the Yuzawa region named for being the point where fish can no longer swim upstream.

M

サナギ滝

Waterfall located in the remote mountainous terrain of Minamiuonuma.

N

角神不動滝

Waterfall located near Tsunogami Onsen in the Aga region.

O

平滑ノ滝

A smooth, sliding waterfall located within the Oze National Park area.

P

大尾不動滝

Waterfall in the Mikura area of Aga with historical religious significance.

Q

赤滝

Distinctive waterfall located in the northern Murakami region.

R

あいよしの滝

Cascade located within the Tadami River basin.

S

大鳥ダム貯水池

Deep mountain reservoir on the Tadami River supporting the Otori hydroelectric power station.

T

Lake Okutadami

Vast artificial lake created by the Okutadami Dam, the largest gravity dam in Japan by volume.

U

東白沢池

Small mountain pond located in the Uonuma district.

V

大白沢池

High-altitude pond situated in the mountains of Uonuma.

W

文平ノ池

Small, quiet pond located in the Agano region.

X

ドンデン池

High-altitude pond on Sado Island’s Donden Plateau, surrounded by alpine flora.

Y

山居池

Secluded pond located in the forested interior of Sado Island.

Yoshiyuki Ito / CC BY-SA 3.0

Z

大ザレの滝

Coastal waterfall on Sado Island's Sotokaifu Coast that drops directly toward the Sea of Japan.