Shiraito Falls | Karuizawa's Arc-Shaped Waterfall Curtain, Better in the Mist

By Nihongo to Japan · Updated June 11, 2026

Shiraito Falls in Karuizawa is a semicircular waterfall where groundwater seeps through rock and falls as dozens of parallel thin streams at once. We visited in heavy mist — the whole space was wrapped in white, the sound of water everywhere, and we ended up staying much longer than planned.

[About Shiraito Falls]

Shiraito Falls (白糸の滝) is located in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture — about 15 minutes by car from Karuizawa Shinkansen Station. Buses run occasionally but the schedule is limited; driving is by far the most convenient option, and there's a paid parking lot near the entrance.

What makes this waterfall unusual is its shape. Rather than a single concentrated stream, groundwater seeps out from a semicircular arc of rock face, forming dozens of thin parallel flows that all fall simultaneously into a round pool below. Seen head-on, it looks less like a conventional waterfall and more like a translucent curtain of water draped across the whole cliff face.

/images/articles/shiraito-falls-karuizawa-02.jpeg

[The walk in]

The path from the parking lot leads through tall trees, lined with bamboo railings. You can hear the water well before you arrive, and the mist starts becoming visible as you get close. There were other visitors, but the path is wide enough that it didn't feel crowded.

Along the way you pass a few smaller waterfalls first — water seeping through mossy rock faces and narrow gorges, quieter than the main falls and easy to miss if you're focused on getting to the destination.

/images/articles/shiraito-falls-karuizawa-03.jpeg

Further along, a wide multi-tiered section appears — water dropping from several levels at once, the whole face a combination of white water and deep green vegetation. The sound gets noticeably louder here.

/images/articles/shiraito-falls-karuizawa-04.jpeg

[The main falls — the mist makes it]

When the main Shiraito Falls came into view, the mist was already thick. The semicircular curtain of water appeared and disappeared through the white haze, the streams blending into the fog rather than standing out against it. The pool below rippled where each stream landed, but the overall visual effect was very still.

That stillness isn't about the absence of sound — the falls are loud. It's that the palette is so consistent: white fog, white water, deep green trees, no harsh contrasts. Your eyes don't tire. We stayed longer than we intended.

/images/articles/shiraito-falls-karuizawa-01.jpeg

[The forest trail nearby]

After the main falls, there's a trail that continues along the stream into the forest. The tree density is high, light comes through in patches, and the ground and rocks are all wet. Occasionally there's the smell of moss.

/images/articles/shiraito-falls-karuizawa-05.jpeg

A fallen tree lay diagonally across the hillside, completely covered in moss, blending into the surrounding green. On a clear day you might walk past without noticing. In the mist it was hard to miss — the kind of thing that makes a place feel genuinely undisturbed.

/images/articles/shiraito-falls-karuizawa-06.jpeg

[Before You Go]

・Access: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station, then rental car or taxi approx. 15 min; parking available at the site (fee applies)

・Admission: free

・Recommended in mist or after rain — the volume increases and the atmosphere is noticeably better

・Nearby: Kyū-Karuizawa Ginza shopping street, Kumoba Pond, Shirakaba Lake

・For Karuizawa day trips or transport passes, check [Klook](https://klook.tpx.lv/IuSKdjjt) or [KKday](https://kkday.tpx.lv/juFfN7dI)