Uriwari Waterfall, Wakasa Uriwari Meisui Park

Uriwari Waterfall, located in the back of Tentokuji Temple, is a waterfall created from a clear spring that gushes from the mountains.

The cold water from the cedar and cypress forests on the temple grounds flows down like a waterfall, and when the trees sway in the wind, the water glistens and spreads out into the forest creating a fantastic sight.

The air is moist, the sound of rushing water echoes, and the light shining through the trees and the moss-covered rocks are stunningly beautiful.

The cold spring water has a flow rate of 4,500 tons per day. The water temperature is cold all year round, about 11 to 12 degrees Celsius, and especially in the summer, the water is characterized by its surprisingly cold temperature.

The name “Uriwari Water” comes from an anecdote: “When a watermelon was cooled, it spontaneously split open. The name “Uriwari Waterfall” was derived from this Uriwari Waterfall.

Its water is rich in minerals and is known for its delicious taste. The water that comes out of Uriwari Waterfall contains high-quality mineral ingredients that have been filtered over a long period of time through the rock layers that serve as a natural filter. It is loved by many people and has an excellent shelf life.

It was selected as one of the 100 best waters in Japan by the Environment Agency, and received the second highest number of votes in the “excellent tasting water category. It is also one of the best waters selected as one of the 100 best water villages in Japan as “Kaminaka-cho (now Wakasa-cho), a lively symbiotic rural town surrounded by greenery and streams.

There is a water station next to the parking lot where visitors can taste the famous water. PET bottles are sold in the park and can be taken home.

In the Edo period geographical book, “Jikishi Zowa,” there is a passage that reads as follows,
“In front of the gate of Tentokuji Temple, there is a clear spring that gushes out from a rock cave, which is called a water forest.
On summer days, this water is so cold as ice that one cannot pick up ten pebbles in the water.
This cold water is commonly called Uriwari-mizu.
This water has been used for a long time in the surrounding area.
This indicates that this water has been known as cold water in the surrounding area since ancient times. The spring has a bamboo enclosure and a sacred rope at its outlet, and is still kept as a sacred place.

According to the book “Folklore of Wakasa,” Tentokuji Temple was built around this spring water and a village was formed.

Tentokuji Temple is located near Iwakami Shrine in a water forest, and the name of the village derives from the name of the temple. The temple is said to have played an important role in the formation of the village.

Furthermore, above the Uriwari Waterfall is the sacred site of the 88 stone Buddha statues of Shikoku. This sacred site was built in the Edo period (1603-1867) by its abbot, Honnyo Shonin, after receiving a revelation from Kukai in a dream.

In his essay, Tsutomu Mizukami, a writer from Wakasa, wrote
Tentokuji Temple is famous for its stone Buddha. The stone Buddha is located up stone steps on the mountainside, where 88 stone statues carved on Sado Island are enshrined.
The stone statues sit quietly in the sunlight streaming in through the overgrown cedar and cypress trees.
Tentokuji Temple has a water forest famous for its spring water, and the sound of water can be heard in the silence of the stone statues.
I believe that Wakasa is after all the land of the Buddha.”
He stated, “I think that Wakasa is the land of Buddha.

The waterfall is located deep within the precincts of Tentokuji Temple, a Shingon sect temple founded by Taicho Daishi, and was originally a training site for ascetic practitioners and a prayer center for the Imperial Court to pray for rain.

A special red algae plant called hildenbrinthialibularis grows in the water near the outlet of the spring and has been selected as one of Fukui Prefecture’s outstanding natural features. It is considered to be the largest breeding ground for the red-headed mudfish in Fukui Prefecture, and the reddish color of the stones in the water has become a famous sight as “red stones.

The park is maintained as Wakasa Uriwari Meisui Park, with 10,000 hydrangea, cherry blossom, and maple trees planted in the garden, providing a seasonal view.

Uriwari Water

This clear spring water gushes from between the rocks of Uriwari-no-taki Waterfall, located at the back of the Tentokuji Temple grounds. It was selected as one of the “100 best waters” by the Environment Agency, and has since been certified as a “water village” by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and as “delicious water of Fukui” by Fukui Prefecture.

It was also ranked second in the category of “Meisui (excellent-tasting water)” in the general election for the selection of the 100 best meisui.

The Wakasa region is rich in water resources. There is an anecdote that the Yin-yang master Abe no Seimei visited this waterfall to pray for rain.

Wakasa Uriwari Meisui Park

Surrounded by lush greenery and developed around Uriwari Waterfall, this park is a healing spot that is cool even in summer, surrounded by clear water and green trees.

In one corner of the garden, flowers of all seasons bloom and add color to the park. The hydrangeas in June are especially magnificent. The park is filled with many hydrangeas, and visitors can enjoy the beautiful blooming of purple hydrangeas.

Inside the facility, there is a “Meisui-no-Sato” where vegetables are sold and a restaurant is available. In addition, hydrangeas are at their best in June, and the “Wakasa Uriwari Meisui Festival” is held every August.

Around the end of June, about 10,000 hydrangeas are in full bloom, attracting many tourists. Iris are also in full bloom at other times of the year.

Meisui no Sato

A souvenir and restaurant sells local specialties such as products using Uriwari water for drinks and souvenirs, locally produced kuzu manju (kuzu buns), locally grown rice, and fresh vegetables.

Among them, the “kuzu manju” is a must-try. It is a specialty of Meisui no Sato, sold from May to October every year.

It is made with Kumagawa kuzu from Wakasa, one of the “three major kuzus in Japan,” and water from Uriwari, and many people become addicted to its soft and juicy texture.

Kuzu manju is cooled in Uriwari water to prevent it from hardening into white when cooled in a refrigerator. There are also green kuzu manjus (kuzu buns) flavored with a hint of green tea.

The kuzu is smooth and elastic, and filled with a sweet, mildly sweet koshi-an (sweetened red bean paste). The kudzu melts softly in your mouth!

The water in the store is Uriwari water. Uriwari water is soft water with high calcium and magnesium content, with a hardness of 47.0 mg/L. It has a good balance of mineral elements and is soft to the palate.

Uriwari water can be collected at the water sampling site in front of “Meisui no Sato” and taken home, and many people are constantly drawing water from there.

Containers for collecting water are sold inside the store, but you can also bring your own.

Every year on the first Saturday in August, the “Wakasa Uriwari Meisui Festival” is held in the Meisui no Sato area. The festival features many events related to the famous water, such as Meisui Nagashi Somen and Meisui Nodate Tea Ceremony, and attracts about 10,000 visitors. Be sure to visit the festival to enjoy the refreshing coolness of the hot summer.

Shikoku 88 Stone Buddhas

It is said that Kobo Daishi carved 88 stone statues of Buddha in the shape of the 88 places on Shikoku in ancient times.

Further in from Tentokuji Temple and Bato Kannon, there are 130 steps. After climbing the stairs, you will come to the Daishi Hall, where 88 stone statues of Buddha stand side by side.

The ground in front of the stone Buddhas is filled with soil brought from the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku, and it is said that stepping on these stones will bring the same merit.

Horse-headed Avalokitesvara

It is said that Taicho Daishi carved this image in the Yoro period (710-794) at Hokyogayama, and later moved to Tentokuji Temple.

Tentokuji Temple

Tentokuji Temple is a temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism, and was founded by Taicho Daishi. In the Heian period (794-1185), it became an imperial temple for Emperor Murakami, and its name is said to derive from “Tentoku,” the name of the year of the Emperor’s visit.

The temple has a history of more than 1,300 years and is a historic place founded by Taicho Daishi.