Yoro Park, Falls and Reversible Destiny　養老天命反転地

Oct. 21^st. 2022,

Yoro Falls

We start the day with a visit to Yoro falls. This is one of the best 100 waterfalls in Japan. There is a 500-yen car park at the top from which you walk down some steps the falls. Alternatively, there is a free car park at the bottom, and you can hike up to the falls.

The Yoro waterfall is nice enough though I am not sure it warrants a 20-kilometre drive and 500-yen parking. As a goal for a hike from the bottom car park it is reasonable enough.

I suspect it is included in the 100 best falls in Japan because Emperor Gensho is on record saying the water cures all ills and is the fountain of youth. The basis of this is a legend. Apparently, a filial son found this waterfall water turned into Sake one day. This miraculous sake not only cured his father’s illness but rendered him younger to boot. The Emperor was hugely impressed. This shows Emperor Gensho to have been extremely gullible.

Reversible Destiny

Leaving the waterfall, we drop down and then rise up the mountain again to investigate the Reversible Destiny Yoro situated in the Yoro Park. The park itself is very large with views over the Noubi Plain.

The Reversible Destiny bit is an outsize ART installation on the theme of overlapping dimensions. There are various mazes, uneven floors and walls intersecting rather than enclosing.

It is ok. It does not really convince on the Reversible Destiny front, but muted fun. A lot of money clearly went into setting it up, but it has become decidedly seedy and in need of refurbishment.

＊Reversible Destiny-Yoro ; 770 yen / adult

Suisho no Yu

From Yoro Park we return to Suisho no Yu, the onsen we failed to find in the dark last night. From the, now far from deserted, car park we take a shuttle bus that runs every 12 minutes up a very steep, narrow and winding road. It is clear why access is by shuttle bus only.

The onsen in the early afternoon is not at all busy, despite the cars in the car park below, and a very pleasant bath indeed. D. is impressed that a 650 yen onsen has separate shampoo and conditioner not the usual rinse in shampoo. This detail had escaped my notice.

There are various baths; a deep one for walking, a cold one for après sauna but the outside bath (rotenburo), though small, offers stunning views out over the Noobi Plain to industrial Nagoya in the distance. An excellent onsen and a bargain.

Now, we head south and west towards Nara and Resti Karako Kagi michi no eki. Another snappy name that rolls off the tongue. We have stayed here before. It is in the town on the outskirts of Nara but flat, modern and quiet with excellent toilets and rubbish bins provided. Good spot.