Another representative plum blossom spot in Shiga Prefecture is on the grounds of a traditional confectionery maker, Kanou Shojuan Sunai no Sato (叶 匠壽庵 寿長生の郷). As many as 700 plums produce fruits for the company to make Japanese sweets. The head office in Ōtsu was renovated from an abandoned village in 1985. The company takes […]
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If it is your first time visiting Kyoto, Arashiyama is probably on your itinerary. While the main streets in the area are packed, the great news is there is a less-known stunning spot that isn’t flooded with tourists. The park has a small plum blossom spot close to the bamboo forest. Over 10 plum blossoms
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Kyoto has many beautiful traditional gardens that aren’t known to many international tourists, and the garden in Yawata City Shōkadō Garden Art Museum (松花堂庭園) is one of them. Yawata City has long been known as a bamboo production area. Thus, the garden has bamboo groves that are stunning throughout the year. Moreover, the vast garden
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There are plenty of attractions in Yoshino District (吉野郡) in Nara that are sadly overshadowed by 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!
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If you find the cherry blossoms at Mt. Yoshino too touristy, check out the flowers at Takami no Sato (高見の郷) in Higashiyoshino Village instead. Although the spot doesn’t have 30,000 cherry trees, the 1,000 weeping cherry blossoms at an altitude of 650 meters will still enchant you!
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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
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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 enjoy
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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 region 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
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If you are looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations in the Kansai region, head to Yabu City in Hyōgo Prefecture. The city is perfect for outdoor recreation activities. It also has some amazing scenery that will captivate you any time of the year!
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Just like Mt. Hyōno, Torokawa Valley (瀞川渓谷), also in the Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park (氷ノ山後山那岐山国定公園) has such stunning scenery that it was chosen to be one of Japan’s Top 100 Hidden Scenic Spots! The mountain trail in Torokawa Valley is more suitable for those more experienced in mountain trekking. There are several places where you must
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