Nachi no Taki is Ise Jingu Ishidohyo, the Japanese Stone Pillar

In Japan, decorative stone pillars can be seen in all sorts of places. These so-called Ishidōhyō (石道標) are placed partly in the ground and contain a written text that must be read from top to bottom. This text can cover a variety of subjects. It can, for example, indicate the way or a location. Additionally, poetic texts also frequently appear.

This very special round Ishidōhyō from the Wakayama prefecture is adorned with beautifully engraved Japanese text that provided travelers with a route description. The text on one side reads: Migi Ise Jingu (右 伊勢神宮), which translates to: To the right – Ise Shrine. This is a famous shrine dedicated to the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu in the city of Ise, in the Mie prefecture. On the other side is Hidari Nachi no Taki (左 なちのたき), which translates to: To the left – Nachi Waterfall. The Nachi Waterfall, also known as Nachi Falls, is an incredibly famous waterfall located next to the Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine in Nachikatsuura, in the Wakayama prefecture. It is the tallest waterfall in all of Japan and a significant part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.