The source of the Kita River is found at an elevation of about 842 metres (2,762 ft) on the slopes of Mount Sanjūsangen in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

[3] Its drainage basin covers an area of 210.2 square kilometres (81.2 sq mi), with approximately 80 percent of that in mountainous terrain.

[2] Since 1981, it has been ranked as the top Class A river for water quality among those overseen by the Kinki Regional Development Bureau.

These falls are ranked 36th in the top 100 famous water features of Japan as named by the Ministry of the Environment.

[3] In September 1953, heavy rainfall from Typhoon Tess caused major flooding along the Kita River and its tributaries, destroying many fields and injuring or killing almost nearly 500 people.