Shiraito Falls

A World Heritage waterfall born of Mount Fuji's spring water

Shiraito Falls (Shiraito-no-Taki) lies in Kamiide, Fujinomiya, where hundreds of streams large and small pour down a curved cliff some 20 metres high and 150 metres wide. Most of that water began as snowmelt on Mount Fuji, filtered slowly through the volcanic strata and emerged here as spring water; it holds a temperature of about 12 degrees Celsius all year round, and roughly 1.5 tons are said to flow out every second. The falls were designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument in 1936, and in 2013 they became one of the component parts of the World Cultural Heritage site Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration. From the close of the Sengoku period into the early Edo period, Hasegawa Kakugyo, regarded as the founder of the Fuji-ko faith, is said to have performed water austerities here, and the site has been walked as a place of pilgrimage and training ever since.

Shiraito and Otodome: two very different faces

Immediately next door stands Otodome Falls (Otodome-no-Taki), where the main course of the Shibakawa river drops in a single plunge from a cliff about 25 metres high. The contrast is the real attraction: Shiraito hangs quiet and fine as silk thread, while Otodome roars beside it. The name Otodome, meaning the stilling of the sound, is said to come from a legend of the Soga brothers. As they discussed their plan to avenge their father by striking down Kudo Suketsune, the noise of the falls drowned out their voices; they prayed, and for a single moment the water fell silent.

The best time of day and season

From the car park a flight of steps leads down to the walking path near the plunge pool. There are a good number of them, and the stone treads turn wet and slippery in the spray, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. On a clear morning the sunlight reaches the falls and a rainbow will sometimes appear in the mist. From the fresh green of early summer through to August the draw is the volume of water and the cool air; around November it is the autumn colours, so the scene changes with every season.

Fees and how long to allow

There is no admission charge for viewing the falls themselves. Parking is paid: 500 yen for a standard car, 200 yen for a motorcycle and 1,000 yen for a bus (as of 2026). Opening hours are 9:00 to 17:00 (until 16:30 in winter, with last entry 30 minutes before closing). Allow about an hour if you plan to see both falls, take photographs and glance into the shops, or around an hour and a half for an unhurried walk down to the plunge pool and back. For the latest fees and hours, please check the information provided by Fujinomiya City or the city tourism association.

Getting there from our hotel

Our hotel sits beside the Fuji Interchange on the Tomei Expressway in Fuji City. To reach Shiraito Falls, take the Nishi-Fuji Road and head north on National Route 139 towards Fujinomiya, roughly 30 to 40 minutes by car. Set out in the morning and you will arrive while the light is still falling into the gorge, and the falls pair easily with other sights in the Fujinomiya direction such as Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha shrine.