
Kegon Waterfalls, Nikko — 華源滝
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
Description
Kegon Waterfalls, Nikko captures one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls, where the waters of Lake Chuzenji plunge nearly one hundred meters into a rocky gorge surrounded by dense forest. Located within the Nikko National Park in Tochigi Prefecture, Kegon Falls has been a celebrated scenic attraction since the area's development as a religious center around the Toshogu shrine complex.
Shuho's oban woodblock print confronts the technical challenge of rendering falling water in a medium that builds images through flat color areas and carved lines. The long vertical drop of Kegon Falls creates a compositional spine, with the surrounding cliffs and vegetation framing the white column of water. The gorge below, where the falls hit the rocks and dissolve into mist, provides an area of tonal complexity. This landscape subject connects Shuho to the broader shin-hanga tradition of meisho prints, though his primary reputation remained in figure subjects.
More Prints by Yamakawa Shuho
More Landscapes Prints

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
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Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
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The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
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Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kegon Waterfalls, Nikko — 華源滝 was created by Yamakawa Shuho (山川秀峰).
Kegon Waterfalls, Nikko — 華源滝 was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Kegon Waterfalls, Nikko — 華源滝 depicts landscapes and waterfalls, set at Nikko.



