Masako Shirasu (1910–1998) was a Japanese essayist known for her writings on Japanese culture, art, and spirituality. Having spent part of her childhood abroad, she developed a distinctive perspective rooted in her deep knowledge of Noh theater, Buddhist art, antiques, and classical literature. Through essays and travel writing, she explored the enduring beauty of Japan's cultural and religious heritage. She received the Yomiuri Prize for Literature in 1992 for "Saigyo." Her best-known work, "Kakurezato" ("Hidden Villages"), is regarded as a classic of Japanese travel literature, reflecting on the history, faith, and beauty found in remote regions of Japan.