Shiraito and Otodome waterfalls 白糸の滝・音止の滝

The two make a pair

 

Shiraito and Otodome Falls in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park are located southwest of Mount Fuji. Both designated "Natural Monuments" by the Japanese authorities, they feature prominently in the ranking of the 100 most beautiful waterfalls in the archipelago since 1990.

 

 

Natural beauties

 

A few minutes' walk from each other, Shiraito Falls and Otodome can be seen and enjoyed as a duo. Fueled by the rains and melting snow from Mount Fuji , the two ladies linked by the history, legends and worship of the sacred mountain respond to each other, even complement each other. Spilling 1.5 tons of water every second, the " white thread waterfall" ( shiraito no taki ) has the appearance of an ancient theater; measuring 20 meters high and 150 meters wide. Streams of water like delicate threads of silk form the curtain of this natural theater whose beauty is striking! In summer, we come to cool off with the family by settling on the rocks at the edge of the clear waters. While the Shiraito falls can be approached as closely as possible, those of Otodome can be savored from a distance. The Otodome no taki , " sound-stopping waterfall" , is more traditional in appearance; 25 meters high and 5 meters wide.

Read : Hakone-jinja Shrine

 

otodome-taki

The Otodome Waterfall

Wikipedia

 

sacred waterfalls

 

Since 2013, Mount Fuji has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a sacred place and a source of artistic inspiration, including in its protection perimeter pilgrimage routes , shrines, traditional inns, volcanic formations, lakes, springs and waterfalls of Shiraito and Otodome. Considered sacred, they are venerated with respect to Fujiko, a devotional cult to Mount Fuji. The founder of Fujiko, Hasegawa Kakuggyo (circa 1541-1646) is said to have trained in ascetic discipline in the waters of Shiraito Falls, making the place a place of pilgrimage . Over the centuries, many pilgrims have come to the site, contributing to the reputation of the place. In 1832, followers of Fujiko erected a stone stele in honor of Jikigyo Miroku, student and successor of Hasegawa Kakugyo. Finally, it is possible to see Mount Fuji in the background of Shiraito Falls from the path up the stairs.

Read : Fujigoko, the five lakes region

 

Monument_jikigyo_Miroku

The stele in honor of Jikigyo Miroku

Wikipedia

 

A legendary revenge

 

Do not hesitate to stroll around the falls; these are full of small hidden treasures linked to a historical episode of the 12th century, taken up in a good number of stories, kabuki plays and ukiyo-e prints. In 1193, the shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199) organized a hunting party in the plains of Mount Fuji to which he invited warlords and thousands of soldiers. On this occasion, the shogun would have stopped at the edge of a natural pool dug in the rock to cool off and comb his hair with this pure deep blue water. This rocky cavity , obinzu , located on the heights, west of Shiraito Falls is also a sacred place of worship of Mount Fuji.

See : The 7 waterfalls of Kawazu

 

tombe_Kudo_Suketsune

Kudo Suketsune's Tomb

Wikipedia

obinzu

The clear water of the obinzu

https://nobu-t-diary.blogspot.fr/


Address, timetable & access

Our activities in Shizuoka

  • Duration : 4 hour
  • Location : Shizuoka
Discover all our activities in Shizuoka (168)

Our tours in Shizuoka

  • Duration : 13 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima
  • Included : Visits & meals, English-speaking tour leader, Hotel temple, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan
  • Duration : 14 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Osaka
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Hotel temple, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 12 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Mt Fuji (Kawaguchiko), Osaka, Himeji, Kyoto, Nara
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3* Hotels & Ryokan, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 12 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kawaguchiko, Tokyo
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Visits & meals
  • Duration : 21 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Osaka, Kobe, Takachiho, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Miyajima
  • Included : English-speaking tour leader, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan, Hotel temple, Visits & meals
See all our other Tours (5)

Latest Articles

Izu shaboten zoo

Izu Shaboten Zoo

On the Izu Peninsula, not far from Mount Fuji, the surprising Izu Shaboten Zoo is home to tropical plants, monumental statues, and exotic animals!

See All (4)