Akame 48 Waterfalls

This waterfall is located in Nabari City in the mid-west of Mie Prefecture. It is known as a scenic spot within Muro Akame Aoyama National Park and has been designated as a national place of scenic beauty. It is located at the upper reaches of Takigawa River, a tributary of the Uda River that flows into the Nabari River, at the northern foot of the Muro Volcanic Group. Numerous large and small waterfalls continue in succession for about 4 kilometers in a deep gorge with magnificent columnar joints of andesite. In 1951 (Showa 26), it was selected as the number one waterfall in the New Japan Tourist 100 Best Places. The name Akame comes from Akame Fudoson of the Tendai sect Enjuin Temple, which is located at the entrance to the waterfall. There is a legend that when En no Ozunu, who is said to be the founder of the waterfall, was undergoing training, Fudo Myo-o appeared on a red-eyed cow. There is a bus service from Akameguchi Station on the Kintetsu Railway Osaka Line, and it is a good place to enjoy the fresh greenery and autumn leaves. It is home to the giant salamander, a special natural monument, and is also home to the Japan Salamander Center.

[Tatsuo Ito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

三重県中西部、名張市(なばりし)にある滝。室生赤目青山国定公園(むろうあかめあおやまこくていこうえん)内の景勝地として知られ、国の名勝に指定されている。室生火山群の北麓(ほくろく)にあって名張川に注ぐ宇陀(うだ)川の支流、滝川の最上流部にある。安山岩の柱状節理がみごとな深い峡谷に、大小多数の滝が連続して約4キロメートル続く。1951年（昭和26）の新日本観光百選では滝の部の第1位に選ばれた。赤目の名は、滝の入口にある天台宗延寿院の赤目不動尊による。開祖といわれる役小角(えんのおづぬ)が修行中、不動明王が赤い目の牛に乗って現れたという伝説がある。近畿日本鉄道大阪線赤目口駅からバスの便があり、新緑と紅葉の行楽によい。特別天然記念物オオサンショウウオが生息し日本サンショウウオセンターもある。

［伊藤達雄］

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