Yoro is well-known as "Yoro" Filial Piety Legend. It was in the eighth century.

It is said that there was a poor woodcutter named Genjounai in the area of Yoro. He supported his elderly father, who loved alcohol, and would buy Japanese "sake" on his way home from work for his father to drink. One day, Genjounai slipped and fell in the mountains, and noticed a spring of water that smelled of Japanese sake. From that day on, Genjounai would draw this sake home with him.

Emperor GENSHO heard this story and visited the area in 717. After bathing in the sacred spring, she was completely cured of her illness. Delighted by this, Emperor GENSHO changed the era name to "Yoro".

In March, 2012, after visiting Tado Taisha Shrine, I took a train on the Yoro Railway Line to Yoro. In front of Yoro Station, you will find a statue of Genjounai and a sign explaining the "Yoro Filial Piety Legend".

The legendary Yoro Falls, where the water from the falls turned into Japanese sake, is located about 3.5km west of the station. On the way, you will find Dai-Bodaiji Temple.

After passing Daibodaiji Temple, the trail becomes steep and eventually emerges into a valley. Yoro Falls is located deep in this valley.

Genjounai, who was a poor woodcutter, was assigned as the head of the provincial governor in this area, after Emperor GENSHO visited Yoro. His grave is located in the temple.

A trail leads from Yoro Temple to Yoro Falls.

The souvenir shops and houses soon disappear, and the walking trail is covered in trees.

I visited in 2012 and 2013. It marked 1,300 years since the era name was changed to Yoro in 2017.
There were banners commemorating this anniversary lining the path to Yoro Falls.

The valley narrows and the walking trail passes through a forest. The lush green trees made for an impressive sight.

The stream was clear and flowing. The path becomes narrow and turns into a steep slope. You will arrive at Yoro Falls. Yoro Fall has a drop of 32m. Many tourists were looking at the waterfall.

The water from the mountain stream is pure. Kikusui-sen, the nearby spring, has been selected as one of Japan's 100 famous springs.

How to get there
From Tokyo and Osaka, take a "Nozomi", Tokaido Shinkansen, to Nagoya. Change to a train on the JR Tokaido Line for Ogaki. Again, change at Ogaki to Yoro, on the Yoro Railway Line. Or, from Nagoya, take a train on the Kansai Main Line to Kuwana. Change a local train on the Yoro Railway Line to Yoro, at Kuwana Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Ohgaki Castle
Ohgaki Castle Town
Sekigahara Battlefield
Tado Taisha Shrine
Rokkaen in Kuwana