Hijio Falls — Local services in Kunigami

In the crazy off chance someone who helped saved my life sees this, I was hoping to thank you. Long story short, I almost died here in 1999 when I tumbled down the cliff face, head over heels nearly a football field (I had climbed up off of the path - not smart) At the end of my rolling down the mountainside, I came to the path and free fell nearly 20 feet (7 meters) down, landing on my chest. I crushed most of my ribs on the right and had a pneumothorax along with multiple lacerations across my entire body. My hand was severed, my back was torn to shreds, and the back of my head had been sheered along with it swelling to twice its size. My blood pressure was incredibly low from bleeding and I was having an incredibly hard time breathing. Thankfully someone saw me in the river bed and found there way down. This person proceeded to watch over me and perform the necessary steps to save my life. I would later find out many others would also help fashioning a makeshift sled to carry me out of the forest. I have no idea if someone was able to make a call but eventually paramedics arrived roughly half-way out of there. I do not remember most of what happened but I do know a LOT of people were involved. I was told there was a troop of Japanese school children who helped (apparently they were scouts, having just learned first aid, and helped with bandaging me. I guess I was there guinea pig. lol) Others took turns carrying me out (at this point I remember a TV crew had arrived) and I was later told it took them well over a hour to carry me all the way out. A helicopter was waiting for me where I was flown to the Naval Hospital and patched up. I do remember that part. Because that was the part the flight surgeon looked down at me and told me he needed to insert a needle in to my chest to save my life. I will NEVER forget that part as it was AWFUL. I don't know the names of anyone but if by some miracle you were a part of it, I want you to know how thankful I am of you. Complete strangers all lent a helping hand and I am still here with 3 wonderful children who I wouldn't have if it weren't for a lot of caring and kind...

UPDATE: ROAD WAY AND PATHS MAY BE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING/LANDSLIDES

If you are going to go just be mindful that this hike or campground area may be closed. There are plenty of short hikes or nice long one up in the National Yanbaru Park. I wanted to let everyone know as we had driven there and saw a sign that said closed since 2024 I felt bad when I watched other tourists approach in a taxi they paid for and had to be driven elsewhere. You can still park just before the campground if you need a spot of quiet area near the river. Unsure if overnight parking is allowed for...

Amazing waterfall!! Very enclosed in nature, at the start of the trail there’s spots for BBQ’s and relaxing too, amazing for a day in nature, the entrance is only 500yen (adults)! Hike there was great, saw a couple cool birds and animals around, (nothing aggressive or anything).

The waterfall itself is completely mesmerizing and water is freezing!!

Right now people can’t swim in it no more, because other past tourists left trash and did dangerous stunts, please do not leave trash or injure yourself!!!

Keep the beauty of this place clean...