Kirifuri Waterfall on Mount Kurokami in Shimotsuke Province

Catalog note / 解説

Falling Mist Waterfall (Kirifuri no taki), on Mount Kurokami (""Black-hair"") in Shimotsuke province (now part of Tochigi prefecture) is one of the famous falls of the mountainous Nikkö area. It descends about 100 feet in two steps, each about 33 feet wide, and as it falls, the water, broken up by the craggy cliff, spreads itself like a moving tapestry into many cascades, creating a mist that chills the air. In this print, Hokusai presents the falls in an extreme close-up view as a bizarre pattern. The broken, turbulent falling water splashes into the pool beneath. Looking up from below, travelers dwarfed by its scale are stunned at the sight, while others make the difficult climb to explor…