ABOUT
About this spot
Otodome Falls is a waterfall in Kamiide, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, on the main stream of the Shibakawa River at the western foot of Mount Fuji. It is about 25 m high and 5 m wide. While nearby Shiraito Falls is delicate, with many thin streams of spring water, Otodome Falls is known as a powerful, majestic cascade. Together with Shiraito Falls it is listed among Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls, and it is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument. The name comes from a story in the Soga Monogatari. During Minamoto no Yoritomo's hunt at the foot of Mount Fuji, the Soga brothers were secretly planning to kill Kudo Suketsune, the killer of their father. The roar of the falls drowned out their voices, so they prayed to a deity and the sound is said to have stopped at once. Hidden Rock of the Soga brothers stands on the east side of the falls, and Suketsune's grave is close by. Allow about 10 minutes for the falls alone, or 30 minutes to an hour if you also visit Shiraito Falls. It lies on the path from the Shiraito Falls parking area, so the two can be seen together. By car it is about 30 minutes from Fuji IC or Shin-Fuji IC; by bus it is about 30 minutes from JR Fujinomiya Station.
Last updated October 22, 2026