Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time I went on a bike tour from Tokyo to Shiraiwa Falls. Shiraiwa Falls is a 15m waterfall located in Hinode-cho, Okutama, surrounded by a beautiful valley dotted with 18 large and small waterfalls. In this article, we will introduce what Shiroiwa Falls is, how to get there, what kind of attractions there are, and where the bike parking lot is.
Shiraiwa Falls is a waterfall that hangs over a clear stream called Tarukubosawa in the Okuno district of Hinode Town. There are 18 waterfalls of all sizes in Tarukubozawa, but Shiraiwa Falls is the largest and most spectacular of them all. Shiraiwa Falls consists of three waterfalls: upper, middle, and lower, with heights of 15m, 12m, and 8.5m, respectively. There is a terrace of about 7 meters between the upper and middle tiers, and the lower tier has a beautiful cascading view. Shiraiwa Falls has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls, and it has a different look each season.
Route to Shiraiwa Falls
This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from Tokyo to Shiraiwa Falls.
The starting point is Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. From here, take the Shuto Expressway Inner Loop Line and take the Shuto Expressway No. 4 Shinjuku Line from Miyakezaka JCT. The Shuto Expressway No. 4 Shinjuku Line is a fun road where you can enjoy views of landmarks such as the Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower. Take the Chuo Expressway from Shinjuku JCT. The Chuo Expressway is a road rich in nature that runs along mountains and rivers, and it takes about 40 minutes to reach Hachioji IC.
From Hachioji IC, enter the public road. Run along Hachioji Kaido to Akiru Bridge, and from there run on Itsukaichi Road to Musashi-Itsukaichi Station. This road has heavy traffic and many traffic lights, so be careful. From Musashi-Itsukaichi Station, run along the Akigawa Kaido road to the entrance of Tsurutsuru Onsen. This road is a scenic road that runs along the Akigawa River. From the Tsurutsuru Onsen entrance, turn right on Route 184 towards Misawa. This road is a mountainous road with many curves. Turn left at the side road in front of the Shiraiwa Falls bus stop and continue along the dirt road until you arrive at the Shiraiwa Falls parking lot. The distance from central Tokyo to Shiraiwa Falls is approximately 80 km, and the journey time is approximately 2 hours.
From the Shiraiwa Falls parking lot, enter the Shiraiwa Falls promenade. This promenade allows you to walk along Tarkubo River and see several waterfalls along the way. The promenade is well maintained, but care must be taken as there are collapses and fallen trees in some places. Also, after rain or when the snow melts, the amount of water increases and you may get splashed. It would be a good idea to take measures against waterproofing and cold weather.
After walking along the promenade for about 15 minutes, you will arrive at Shiraiwa Falls. Shiraiwa Falls is made up of three waterfalls: upper, middle, and lower, each with a different appearance. The upper waterfall is an impressive vertical waterfall with a drop of 15 meters. The middle waterfall is an elegant waterfall that slides down the rock face, and has a drop of 12 meters. The lower waterfall is a wide waterfall that cascades down towards the end, with a drop of 8.5m. Shiraiwa Falls has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls, and it has a different look each season. The fresh greenery and cherry blossoms are beautiful in spring, the cool sound of water is soothing in summer, the autumn leaves are vivid in autumn, and the icicles and snowy scenery look magical in winter. Shiraiwa Falls is a wonderful spot where you can enjoy the beauty of nature.
Shiraiwa Falls motorcycle parking lot
You can park at the parking lot near the bus stop to Shiraiwa Falls, and parking is free.
It will be shared with a car, so it is best to park in a corner so as not to disturb other users. Also, some parts of the parking lot have a slight slope, so please be careful when using the parking lot.
Summary
This time I went on a bike tour from Tokyo to Shiraiwa Falls. Shiraiwa Falls is a 15m waterfall located in Hinode-cho, Okutama, surrounded by a beautiful valley dotted with 18 large and small waterfalls. In this article, we introduced what Shiraiwa Falls is, how to get there, what kind of attractions there are, and where the bike parking lot is. Look forward to the next article!
