During spring holidays this year, I spent some time in Nikko, which is about 2 hours north of Tokyo. Nikko is famous for the Kegon Falls—one of Japan’s most famous waterfalls, as well many temples and shrines from the Tokugawa period.

There is also a famous bridge in Nikko but it was closed for repairs. I didn’t make it to the Kegon Falls, opting instead for the quieter, less-travelled Kirifuri Falls, which are a few kilometers north of town. After looking at the two-stage falls from an observation platform, I decided to climb down to the base of the falls. The climb, down 60-70 degree rock-covered slopes was quite intense. When I finally made it to the bottom, I found this tiny spring behind me.