Mother’s White Waterfall

Located at the end of a narrow trail along the Mitsutoge Pass, Haha no Shirataki, or “Mother’s White Waterfall,” is part of a small Shinto shrine of the same name located right next to the waters.

The deity enshrined at the waterfall is Takuhatachiji-hime, the goddess of fabric and sewing. In Japanese mythology, she is said to be the mother-in-law of Konohanasakuya-hime, the goddess of Mt. Fuji, which may account for the name of the waterfall and shrine. This shrine is associated with Kawaguchi Asama Shrine located in the foothills below.

Since the Heian period (794-1185), worshipers seeking to climb Mt. Fuji have purified themselves at this waterfall and prayed for safe journeys before descending to Kawaguchi Asama Shrine to continue their ablutions. Even today, the waterfall is considered a “power spot”: a sacred place where one can bask in the area’s natural and spiritual energy.

A short climb further up the staircase next to the waterfall leads the visitor to a smaller waterfall, Chichi no Shirataki or “Father’s White Waterfall.”