About Nikko Shiraito Waterfall (nikko-shiraito-no-taki [日光・白糸の滝])
The Nikko Shiraito Waterfall (nikko-shiraito-no-taki [日光・白糸の滝]; Nikko Shiraito Falls, not to be confused with the many other Shiraito Falls in Japan) was my waterfalling excuse to explore the area around the Toshogu Shrine.
By the way, the Toshogu Shrine was the most famous of all the World Heritage temples and shrines in Nikko [日光], and it’s what draws the international tourists (i.e. crowds) here.

So it’s in this context that was impressed upon me during my visit to the Shiraito Waterfall despite its rather humble size at the foot of the Takinoo Shrine.
For starters, it was delightfully uncrowded, less commercialized, and more of a tranquil “zen” experience compared to the more commercialized and lemmings-like mentality that prevails further downslope.
Perhaps part of the reason why this waterfall doesn’t get much notoriety is that it’s a diminutive waterfall (maybe between 5-10m tall) fronted by infrastructure supporting the Takinoo Shrine approach to its entrance.
With that context, it makes the waterfall almost feel like an afterthought though I did notice a memorial here for John K. Emmerson, who was an American diplomat (making me wonder if that waterfall had something to do with him).

Anyways, for all intents and purposes, this was essentially a nearly roadside waterfall as I self-drove to the ??? shrine, which has limited car park space right across from bridges fronting the Shiraito Falls.
Now, if I didn’t have my own wheels, I could have also walked around 1.2km from the Toshogu Shrine complex and go up the narrow roads past the car parks for the shrine area just as one gaijin did here, who shared the experience with me momentarily.
After having our fill of the falls, we each then went up the steps to explore the Takinoo Shrine, which did not charge admission.
The complex had a handful of less blinged out shrine buildings and torii gates as well as more man-modified waterfalls on the same stream causing the Shiraito Falls.

I didn’t explore another path that went downstream along the stream so I can’t say where that path went, but I had a pretty satisfying experience though I was mindful of the slippery footing given the moderate rain during my visit.
Authorities
The Nikko Shiraito Waterfall resides in the Nikko area of the Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It may be administered by the Nikko National Park. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the Nikko Tourism Association website.
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