Jinba Falls: Crystal Clear Fuji Water
Jinba Falls (陣馬の滝・Jinba no Taki) can be found in the Inokashira area of Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka, on the western foot of Mount Fuji. Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333), once camped by the falls while hunting, hence the name jinba, or "encampment spot."
By Michael Kanert
Jinba Falls
Groundwater from Mount Fuji flows down the falls and throughout the area. Crystal clear and cold, it stays the same temperature all year round, with local villagers using the rivers as natural refrigerators for vegetables and even soda cans.
In fact, the region was once a little too well known for its water: at a time when domains were taxed in part based on their water wealth, the village of Inokashira actually changed its kanji from 井の頭, or wellhead, to 猪之頭, boar's head, in an effort to obfuscate just how much water it had.
The water is so clear that Shizuoka Prefecture selected one of the region's rice paddies to present a pristine, hand-picked bag of rice to the emperor in 2011.
If you want to get a real sense of the warm local culture, be sure to stop by on the third Sunday in August for the Jinba Falls Festival, or Jinba no Taki Matsuri (陣馬の滝まつり), which features taiko drumming, street performances, a children's samurai procession and other festivities.
Jinba Falls
Address: 529 Inokashira, Fujiyoshida City, Shizuoka
- www.city.fujinomiya.lg.jp (Japanese)
