Born out of the gushing spring waters of Mount Fuji, a traditional favourite of the tourists visiting Japan, the Shiraito Falls lie at the foothills of the volcano yet is often missed by several travellers.

With a strong resemblance to thin white threads of silk, the Shiraito Falls in Fujinomiya, Japan tend to bring about an expression of joyous reminiscence on the faces of tourists that might have only visited the falls once, but have cherished it forever.

A sight to behold, the Shiraito Falls flows off the edge of a 20 metre high and 150 metre wide cliff in the lush surroundings of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and is a protected Japanese National Monument. Revered for its natural beauty, the falls appear to be a percolating series of weeping walls through moss and other foliage.

The falls are listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site along with Mount Fuji. They are surrounded by a green canopy of trees layered and sheltering over the wall of the water splashing down into a blue-green pool.

With pebbles and rocks filling the area surrounded by the pool, for many tourists it makes for an ideal location to relax in the lap of nature, while others merrily go on a photographing spree. If lucky, a rainbow can also be spotted, giving the waterfall a fairy tale appeal.

“I visited this cluster of waterfalls in summer this year. It is almost magical the way gushing falls and the scent of greenery mesmerised my senses. There is absolutely no way any photograph could do it justice to convey the natural beauty of the falls,” says Ayush Tariyal, a 24-year-old marketing student in Tokyo. 

Snacks and Souvenirs

A few cafes and one ice cream parlour is located on the way to the falls where tourists usually grab a quick bite before heading to, or back from the falls. The Fujinomiya Yakisoba, a local delicacy that is prepared by adding fried noodles to lard, meat and cabbage, along with authentic Japanese sauces, has become a staple for travellers in the area.

“Fujinomiya Yakisoba was very different than any other noodles I have tried in my four years in Japan. It was particularly tempting to me because it had a strong tone of ginger because of the pickled ginger toppings,” says Tariyal.

The souvenir shops along the way sell traditional Japanese items, besides little keychains, fridge magnets and wall hangings with pictures of the waterfall.

A 3-hour bus ride away from the capital city of Tokyo, the waterfalls figure on the routes of all main bus services running in the region. For tourists that choose to drive their own vehicles, a large parking facility is available at a nominal charge of about INR 375.

A trip to the Shiraito Falls is usually accompanied by a visit to the nearby Otodome waterfall, Lake Tanuki and the classical favourite Mt Fuji.