Riding to Shomyo Falls, Japan's Tallest Waterfall: Route from Toyama City and the Akushiro Wall (Honda X-ADV)

I rode my X-ADV from Toyama City to Shomyo Falls (Shomyo-daki), said to be Japan's tallest waterfall.

In this article I show the route from Toyama City to Shomyodaira Parking, the car park just below the falls, with stills taken from my video.

Another highlight on the way is the Akushiro Wall (Akushiro-no-Kabe), a rock face about 500 m high that you look up at from the road.

The short answer

From Toyama City, head for the mountains on Prefectural Roads 3 and 68, the farm road and Prefectural Road 6
Few traffic lights, a very easy road to ride
Finish on Shomyo Road to Shomyodaira Parking
You can look up at the Akushiro Wall from Shomyo Road
About a 30-minute walk from the car park to the falls viewpoint
Shomyo Road is closed in winter and only open at set times

The route on video

I've put the ride into an 8-minute video, with a map and narration (Japanese, with English subtitles).

What kind of waterfall is Shomyo Falls?

Shomyo Falls is in Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture.

With a drop of 350 m it is said to be the tallest in Japan, and it falls in four tiers.

It is designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, and is one of Japan's "Top 100 Waterfalls".

The route from Toyama City

This is the route I took.

Illustrated route from Toyama City along Prefectural Roads 3, 68 and 6 and the farm road, then Shomyo Road to Shomyodaira Parking — Route illustration

East from Toyama City on Prefectural Road 3
Cross the Joganji River
South on the Toyama Outer Ring Road (Prefectural Road 68)
Take the wide-area farm road
Head for the mountains on Prefectural Road 6
Shomyo Road to Shomyodaira Parking

The map is an illustration only; the scale and road shapes are not accurate.

Crossing the Joganji River

I left home at about 6 a.m. and first crossed the iron bridge over the Joganji River.

Riding across the pale blue truss bridge over the Joganji River in the early morning, with mountains ahead — The bridge over the Joganji River

Shomyo Falls lies upstream on this river.

A straight road through the rice fields

For a while, a straight road runs through the rice fields.

A straight single-carriageway road between rice fields and buildings, with mountains in the distance — The straight road through the fields

It was early morning, so there was still little traffic.

Mountain roads and snow sheds

As the mountains get closer, the road runs through an avenue of cedars.

A mountain road with an orange centre line, surrounded by tall cedar trees — The cedar-lined road

Beyond that is a snow shed that protects the road from snow and falling rocks.

Riding through a concrete snow shed lined with arched windows — The snow shed with arched windows

Into the valley

Past the snow shed, the mountains close in.

A wide valley road between green mountains, with the bike's mirror in the right foreground — The valley road with mountains closing in

From here the road follows the river and climbs deeper into the valley.

Highlight: the Akushiro Wall

As you go along Shomyo Road, sheer cliffs appear on both sides.

The biggest of them is the Akushiro Wall (Akushiro-no-Kabe).

Looking up from the road at the Akushiro Wall, a green-covered rock face about 500 m high — The Akushiro Wall

It is said to be about 500 m high and about 2 km long.

It is a sheer wall carved over a very long time by the Shomyo River out of rock formed by Tateyama's volcanic activity.

The rock face of the Akushiro Wall seen through the trees — The rock wall through the trees

The rock wall carried on between the pillars of the snow shed, too.

The green rock wall outside, seen from inside a snow shed lined with pillars — The rock wall between the pillars

Arriving at Shomyodaira Parking

Up the last slope and you reach Shomyodaira Parking.

Shomyodaira Parking at the foot of green mountains, already full of cars early in the morning — The car park, full even early in the morning

Even though it was early morning, the car park was already full.

From here, the walk along the footpath to the Shomyo Falls viewpoint is said to take about 30 minutes.

This article covers the ride as far as the car park.

Check before you go

Shomyo Road is closed in winter
Opening hours are set for each season
If you go early, don't arrive before it opens
Check the latest information on the official Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route website

In 2025, for example, it opened at 7 a.m. on 28 April. The hours you can use Shomyo Road are said to vary through the season.

My impressions

From Toyama City to Shomyodaira the road had few traffic lights and was very easy to ride.

The Akushiro Wall is breathtaking. I recommend going to see it with your own eyes at least once.

I expect the road and car park get busy in the autumn colour and climbing seasons.

Even on the day I went, the car park was already full early in the morning. Give yourself plenty of time.

I filmed the ride in 360 degrees with an Insta360 X5.

Every Part I've Fitted to My Honda X-ADV: Screen, GIVI, Power and Dashcam, with the Pitfalls

Summary

You can get from Toyama City to Shomyodaira Parking on prefectural roads
The scenery changes from rice fields to mountain roads
Few traffic lights, easy to ride
The Akushiro Wall is a huge rock face about 500 m high, well worth seeing
About a 30-minute walk from the car park to the falls viewpoint
Expect crowds in the autumn colour and climbing seasons
Check Shomyo Road's opening period and hours before you go

The video shows the feel of the road just as it is. Please have a look.

*This is based on my ride on 5 September 2026. Road opening periods and hours and car park information may change, so check the official information before you go.