A girl enjoys sliding down the river, sitting on a fertilizer bag, at Ryumon no Taki waterfalls in Kokonoe, Oita Prefecture.
Ryumon no Taki, a waterfall in Matsuki in the town of Kokonoe, Oita Prefecture, is popular among children who enjoy water-sliding during the summer vacation.
The 26-meter-high, 40-meter-wide waterfall is followed by a wide slope made smooth by the waters of the river. Children sit on plastic bags and swim rings to slide down the natural waterslide for about 50 meters. Local residents say the amount of water is larger than last year because of much rain in the rainy season.
An eight-year-old girl of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, who brought a fertilizer bag she borrowed from her grandfather who is a farmer, said: “It feels great because I can slide better with a fertilizer bag than with a swim ring.”
Farmers in the neighborhood launched a tourism association 28 years ago to attract tourists from outside the prefecture. During the summer, they clean up the area in their spare time, weeding and picking up trash in cooperation with local residents and store owners.
“We want to work with everyone in the district to preserve the landscape,” said farmer Michiyasu Adachi, 60, chairman of the association. “I hope people will enjoy the coolness at this precious spot, while keeping in mind that safety comes first.”