Totsukawa Village (十津川村), the biggest village in Japan, is located in the southernmost part of Nara Prefecture. It is blessed with beautiful scenery. To its north is the Tanize Suspension Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Japan. Sasano Falls, located in the middle of the village, is one of the Top 100 Waterfalls in the …
Totsukawa – Japan’s Biggest Village and the Hidden Gems Read More »
Tamaki Shrine (玉置神社), almost at the summit of Mt. Tamaki (Tamakisan, 玉置山), is the oldest shrine in Japan. The shrine is at an altitude of 1,076 meters and was founded in BC 37 by the imperial court for demon expulsion. In 2004, the shrine, one of the Shugendō’s (修験道) training sites, was registered as a World …
Tamaki Shrine – The Shrine that Can only Be Reached if Summonded Read More »
Dorokyō Valley (瀞峡), located in the south of Totsukawa Village, is one of the National Places of Scenery Beauty (特別名勝). The picturesque valley remains a hidden gem to most. So if you enjoy various outdoor activities, Dorokyō can be the ideal destination to stop by when you visit the Kansai region!
One of the most scenic places in the Yoshino District is probably Mitarai Valley (みたらい渓谷) in Tenkawa Village (天川村). The valley that boasts of being one of the most stunning valleys in the Kansai area is located where the Yamagami River (山上川) that flows from Mt. Ōmine (大峯山) joins the Amano River (天ノ川). It is …
Mitarai Valley – One of the Most Stunning Valleys in Kansai Read More »
When visiting a Japanese shrine, you must have seen those wooden plates with people’s wishes written on the back, hung on one side of the precinct. If you ever wonder where those wooden plates originated, then visit Niukawakami Shrine (丹生川上神社). Furthermore, you get to act like a Shinto priest swinging the stick with paper strips …
Niukawakami Shrine, The Shrine Revered by the Imperial Court Read More »
Dorogawa Onsen Town (洞川温泉郷), in Tenkawa Village of Yoshino District (吉野郡天川村), is situated at an altitude of 820 meters. It has long been the first stop for the Shugendō (修験道) pilgrims on their way to the sacred mountain – Mt. Ōmine (大峯山). In hot summer, the mountain village situated in the highlands still gets to …
Dorogawa Onsen – The Entrance of the Sacred Mt. Ōmine Read More »
There are plenty of attractions in Yoshino District (吉野郡) that are sadly overshadowed by a classic sites like Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) in Nara Prefecture. It is time to shed light on the very best Yoshino has to offer. If you are fond of cherry blossoms and/or fall foliage, read on!
The gorgeous cherry blossoms on Mt. Yoshino or Yoshinoyama (吉野山) have been one of the most famous destinations in Japan for a long time. The beauty of the mountain had appeared in Japanese poems from the Heian period (794 – 1185)! But you may not be aware that Mt. Yoshino is also a great place …
Mt. Yoshino – The Destination for Cherry Blossom in Japan Read More »