Doryū Falls
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseDoryū Falls: Threads of Water, Breath of the Forest・山梨県「吐竜の滝」：苔と清流が織りなす自然美
Tucked within the lush Kawamata Gorge of the Yatsugatake Highlands, Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryū-no-Taki) reveals another of its many serene faces. Here, spring water gracefully flows over mossy stones like silk spun by nature itself. Its name, “Doryū,” loosely translated as Dragon’s Breath, reflects the blending of Japan’s landscape with mythology.
In my latest write-up, I explore the meaning behind this name, its spiritual roots, and the calm beauty of capturing this quiet waterfall in its natural rhythm.
Read the full story (1-minute read) down below.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/08/27・12:11
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/20
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseLush Moss under the Flow of Doryū Falls, Yamanashi Prefecture・吐竜の滝を彩る、瑞々しい苔の岩肌（山梨県）
Vivid green moss covers the rocks beneath Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryu-no-taki) in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Fed by natural spring water flowing through the Kawamata Gorge, the soft cascade nourishes a lush carpet of moss and vegetation, creating a serene and timeless natural scene in the Yatsugatake Highlands.
Whether it’s moss growing on wet rocks, clinging to the side of a tree, or carpeting the grounds of a Japanese garden, I’m always captivated by its vivid green tones and velvety texture. It’s one of my favorite subjects to photograph whenever I discover it while exploring the outdoors with my border collie.
Read the full story (1-minute read) down below.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/08/27・12:05
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
53 mm ISO 100 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/4.5
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseDoryū Falls: A Dragon’s Silk Cascade in Yamanashi・山梨県・八ヶ岳高原の「吐竜の滝」—神話が息づく静寂の流れ
Tucked away in the verdant Kawamata Gorge of the Yatsugatake Highlands, Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryū-no-Taki) reveals its quiet beauty as water weaves like silk over moss-covered rock. Its name, meaning Dragon’s Breath, hints at Japan’s timeless blend of natural wonder and mythic spirit.
In my latest blog post, I share the story behind this name, its spiritual connections, and what it was like to capture this tranquil scene through my lens.
Read the full story (1-minute read) down below.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/08/27・12:04
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
40 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/5.6
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseThe Serene Flow of the Kawamata River, Yatsugatake Highlands・八ヶ岳の山麓に広がる、静寂の川俣川
Originating near the peak of Mt. Gongen (権現岳・Gongen-dake), the Kawamata River (川俣川・Kawamata-gawa) flows eastward before curving south through the verdant Kawamata Gorge. Midway along its 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) course, the river is joined by the pure spring waters of Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryū-no-Taki), forming a tranquil and cooling retreat amid the summer greenery of Yamanashi.
Read the full story (1-minute read) down below.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/08/27・11:51
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
48 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/7.1
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseCapturing Doryū Falls: A Dragon’s Flow in the Yatsugatake Highlands・八ヶ岳の秘境、川俣川に流れる「吐竜の滝」を訪ねて
Nestled in the lush Kawamata Gorge of the Yatsugatake Highlands in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝) cascades gracefully over mossy rocks, embodying Japan’s deep connection between nature and myth. In my latest blog post, I explore the mythology behind its name, its ties to Shinto and Buddhist traditions, and my experience photographing this serene landscape.
Read the full story (1-minute read) down below.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/08/27・14:47
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
105 mm ISO 400 for 1/500 sec. at ƒ/5.6
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseUp-Close Perspective of the Fast-Flowing Kawamata River in Yamanashi, Japan
山梨県・川俣川のせせらぎを間近で感じる視点
Originating near the peak of Mt. Gongen (権現岳・Gongen-dake) in Yamanashi Prefecture, the Kawamata River (川俣川・Kawamata-gawa) flows swiftly eastward before bending south through the verdant Kawamata Gorge. Midway along its 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) course, the river is joined by the pure spring waters of Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryū-no-Taki), which is the location where I captured this photo. The ice-cold stream and dappled light beneath the forest canopy created a tranquil, refreshing escape from the midsummer heat.
Read the full story (1-minute read) down below.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/08/27・12:41
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/8
Capturing Doryū Falls: A Dragon’s Flow in the Yatsugatake Highlands
八ヶ岳の秘境、川俣川に流れる「吐竜の滝」を訪ねて
The Kawamata River (川俣川・Kawamata-gawa) flows eastward from near the peak of Mt. Gongen (権現岳・Gongen-dake) before turning south, covering a total length of about 14 km (8.7 mi).
The river winds through the lush Kawamata Gorge, where, about halfway along its course, you can find the beautiful Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryū-no-Taki) cascading into the river.
The name “Doryū” (吐竜) combines the characters 吐 (to exhale or drool) and 竜 (dragon). Literally translated, it means “Dragon’s Drool Falls.” The name comes from the sight of thin, silky streams of water flowing gracefully over moss-covered rocks, evoking the image of a dragon’s breath or drool as abundant underground water from the Yatsugatake Mountains emerges from the rocks and feeds into the river.
While “dragon drool” might sound a bit unsettling in English, the opposite is true in Japanese mythology. Dragons are benevolent water deities strongly associated with rain, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
This symbolism is often seen at Shinto shrines, where the spouts of purification fountains (手水舎・temizuya) are shaped like dragon heads. Many Shinto shrines near bodies of water even enshrine dragons as their main deity.
In Buddhism as well, dragons are regarded as protectors of the Buddha and guardians of Buddhist law. This association is reflected in the frequent use of the old character for dragon (龍; ryū—the predecessor of 竜) in the names of many Buddhist temples throughout Japan.
Although I’m overall satisfied with how my photos turned out (especially considering they were shot handheld), I’d love to revisit Doryū Falls again before sunrise to capture the scene in warmer light. Next time, I plan to use my tripod, and maybe an ND filter, for longer exposures to achieve a silkier flow of the water.
It would also be rewarding to visit after a rainfall to photograph the increased water volume, or in autumn when the surrounding foliage transforms into brilliant shades of yellow and orange.
References:
