Shiraito Falls, Natural cascade in Tozawa, Japan

Shiraito Falls is a waterfall in Tozawa with hundreds of thin water streams flowing down a volcanic rock face, reaching about 20 meters in height across roughly 150 meters in width. The many parallel water lines along the dark rock create a delicate visual structure that differs markedly from typical single-stream waterfalls.

Shiraito Falls is the largest of the 48 waterfalls of the Mogami Gorge, where the Mogami River drops from 500 to 300 metres. It appears in classical Japanese literature, including the Gikeiki and Matsuo Basho's Oku no Hosomichi. In 1990 the Ministry of the Environment listed it among Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.

The name Shiraito means White Threads in Japanese, describing how water cascades in delicate lines resembling silk strands. Visitors notice how the many thin flows create an almost fabric-like appearance as they descend the rock face.

Several walking paths lead to the waterfall and are well-marked and accessible. Regular bus connections are available from nearby stations in Yamagata Prefecture to reach the site.

Shiraito Falls is the largest of the 48 waterfalls of the Mogami Gorge, where the Mogami River drops from 500 to 300 metres. It appears in classical Japanese verse, including a poem in the 13th-century anthology Fugashu attributed to Minamoto no Shigeyuki, and in the Gikeiki and Basho's Oku no Hosomichi.