Fujisan Hongu Sengen Shrine and Shiraito Falls

Last week, two friends invited me to do some summer sight-seeing. It was a full day and I had a great time with them. In the morning we visited two of the 25 sites that make up the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Cultural Site.  On June 22, 2013, UNESCO recognized these 25 sites as having cultural interest. Mt. Fuji has inspired artists and poets and been the object of pilgrimage for centuries. 

First, we visited Fujisan Hongu Sengen Shrine.  This shinto shrine is located in the city of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture and is the head shrine of 1300 Sengen Shrines. There is a distinctive two story gate tower that was originally built in 1604 with funds donated by Tokugawa Ieyasu and is now registered as a National Important Cultural Property.  The large pond on the shrine grounds contains a spring and is protected as a National Natural Monument.

Next we visited Shiraito Falls and Otodome Falls. These falls are part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and have been protected since 1936 as a Japanese Natural Monument.  Shiraito Falls are listed as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.

I'll continue with a report on our lunch and the afternoon adventure in a couple of days!