Tamasudare Falls Light-Up 2026: Yamagata’s Tallest Waterfall After Dark
Tohoku · YamagataIllumination
A 63-metre single-drop waterfall in the forest above Sakata is floodlit for two short seasons a year, and the walk in after dark is half the experience.
Overview
Tamasudare-no-Taki (玉簾の滝) is Yamagata Prefecture’s tallest single-drop waterfall: 63 metres high and about 5 metres wide, set in woodland on the southern flank of Mount Chokai. The name likens the falling water to a hanging bead curtain.
Since 1999 the falls have been lit at night during two holiday windows. It is a modest, locally run affair rather than a large tourist illumination — a short walk from a car park to a floodlit cliff face, with the sound of the water doing most of the work.
When and Where
2026 had two sessions: 25 April to 6 May over Golden Week, and 7 to 16 August over the summer holidays. Lighting runs from sunset until 21:00. The dates shift slightly year to year around the same two periods; historically they ran roughly 26 April–6 May and 9–18 August.
The falls are at Masuda Aza-Omori, Sakata City. Parking is at Chokaisan Minami Terrace — 47 car spaces and 4 for buses — with a paved trail from there to the viewing point.
Winter light-ups were discontinued in 2013, so do not plan around them.
What to Expect
- A single 63-metre drop lit from below, the tallest in the prefecture.
- A short paved approach trail from the car park through forest.
- Cool air off the water — noticeably colder than the surrounding area, which is part of the appeal in August.
- A JPY 100 per-person cooperation fee that goes toward running the lighting.
Admission and Tickets
A light-up cooperation fee of JPY 100 per person is collected on site. There is no ticketing or reservation. Enquiries go to the Sakata City Yawata Branch Office on 0234-64-3111.
Tips for Visitors
This one genuinely needs a car. There is no direct public transport, and it is about 40 minutes from JR Sakata Station. Bring a torch — the trail is paved but unlit between the car park and the falls, and the local tourism association says so themselves. Go on a warm night and stand close: the spray off a 63-metre drop is the best air conditioning in Tohoku.
Access and Map
| Dates | Two sessions annually (2026: 25 Apr–6 May and 7–16 August) |
|---|---|
| Time | Sunset to 21:00 |
| Venue | Tamasudare Falls, Masuda Aza-Omori, Sakata City, Yamagata |
| Nearest station | JR Sakata Station, approx. 40 min by car (no direct public transport) |
| Admission | JPY 100 per person (light-up cooperation fee) |
| Official site | sakata-kankou.com |
Source: Sakata Tourism & Products Association
Image: Photo: Jun K / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) — licence
