Yoshino – Where World Heritage Sites Meet Stunning Scenery

Mt. Yoshino, or Yoshinoyama (吉野山), has been one of the most famous destinations in Japan for a long time. Japanese poets from the Heian period (794 – 1185) could not resist writing about the beauty of this mountain.

What you might not be aware of is that Mt. Yoshino is also a great place for hydrangeas, autumn foliage, and snow scenery hunting!

For more information on this gorgeous mountain, please read our article on Mt. Yoshino (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.

Lake Tsuburo is the dam lake of the Tsuburo Dam (津風呂ダム) which was completed for irrigation in 1963. The lake boasts an area of 150 hectares, which is great for trekking and cycling.

Sightseeing boats run from April to November for those who fancy a 30-minute boat ride across the lake.

For those who love trekking and/or cycling, there are a couple of lookouts and observatories with a panorama view of the stunning lake.

From Kintetsu’s (近鉄) Yamato-Kamiichi Station (大和上市駅), take Nara Kōtsū’s bus (奈良交通) bound for Yumori Onsen Suginoyu (湯盛温泉杉の湯) and get off at Tsuburoko-guchi (津風呂湖口). From there, it is around a 40-minute walk.

For the service’s weekday timetable, please search on Nara Kōtsū’s website HERE.

Yoshino District boasts the best natural resources in the region.

One of the best ways to enjoy what the district has to offer is to join one of the canyoning tours held by Aozora Fun Outdoor Activity Specialist (青空ファン ｱｳﾄﾄﾞｱｶﾞｲﾄﾞ専門店)!

Guided by one of the many experienced outdoor activity specialists, you will be traveling through canyons in a completely different way compared to normal tourists.

Enjoy the cool water by going through the slider made by large rock surfaces and jumping into the natural pool in the primary forest (≧▽≦).

In winter, when the mountain stream is too cold for water sports, Aozora Fun will guide you into the deep mountains to discover the amazing scenery of frozen waterfalls and rimes on trees.

The company also has other canyoning courses in different parts of the Kansai area that you can choose from. Check out their rafting courses!

If you have issues reading the website and/or booking the course, contact us HERE, and we will get back to you.

Tip: We have confirmed with them that the course can be conducted in English. So please let them know your preference. Also, if you don’t plan to drive, free pick-up and drop-off services can be arranged from and to Kintetsu Yamato-Kamiichi Station (大和上市駅) if you inform them in advance.

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Biwano Falls in Yoshino District is a unique waterfall with two waterfall basins. The magnificent waterfall stands at a height of 50 meters and is particularly stunning in autumn.

From the trailhead, it is a 40-minute hike through the less-maintained earthen road and rocky areas. The slope gets steep after crossing the suspension bridge, but a rope is set up for assistance.

On the way to Biwano Falls, there are numerous smaller waterfalls. Once you get to the observation deck, trek further to the bottom. Just be careful, as the road can get slippery.

On a side note, you can also hike all the way to Mt. Yorigatake (百合が岳) from Biwano Falls. A return trip will take around 6 to 7 hours, though.

• From Kintetsu Yamato-Kamiichi Station (大和上市駅), take Nara Kōtsū’s (奈良交通) bus bound for Higashiyoshino Murayakuba (東吉野村役場), and get off at Shimotako (下多古). From there, it is around a 30-minute walk to the trailhead.
  • You can search for Nara Kōtsū’s timetable HERE.
• If you are driving, there is a car park at the trailhead.

If you find the cherry blossoms at Mt. Yoshino too touristy, check out the flowers at Takami no Sato 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!

For more information, refer to our Takami no Sato article!

Driving to Takami no Sato? On the way back, drop by Hōzōji Temple for the big cherry tree over 420 years old! It is currently Nara Prefecture’s biggest weeping cherry tree (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.

The 10-meter tall tree has branches stretching 10 meters, creating a small cherry blossom tunnel over the stairs leading to the temple’s main worship hall.

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• To get to Hōzōji Temple, please get to Kintetsu’s (近鉄) Haibara Station (榛原駅) first. Then, take Nara Kōtsū’s (奈良交通) bus bound for Higashiyoshino Murayakuba (東吉野村役場) and get off at Higashiyoshino Murayakuba.
  • Search for the timetable on Nara Kōtsū’s services HERE. The webpage should automatically switch to English.
  • For weekdays, you can also refer HERE for a complete timetable (in Japanese only).
  • For weekdays, you can also refer HERE and click “奈良交通路線バス時刻表” for a complete timetable (in Japanese only).

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 attached to purify yourself!

To find out more about this unique shrine, please refer to our article on Niukawakami Shrine (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.

The 7.4 km promenade leading to Dorogawa Onsen (洞川温泉) is picturesque throughout the year that attracts many nature lovers every year.

The hot spring in Dorogawa Onsen Town at Yamagami River’s upstream has been known to be effective in healing one’s body since ancient times, perfect for you to indulge in after a 3-hour hike (the 3 hours here include resting time along the course)!

So apart from the nice hot spring in Dorogawa Onsen, what else can you do?

As an onsen resort in the deep mountain with a deep connection with Shugendō, the Dorogawa Shinzen Kenkyū Road is a round course connecting the scenic and historical spots around Dorogawa Onsen.

For more information, please refer to our article on Dorogawa Onsen.

Do you know where the longest suspension bridge in Japan is? That’s right, in Yoshino District, Nara! The 297-meter-long bridge is a great spot to stop by on the way back to Kansai from Mt. Takano.

For more information, please read our Totsukawa Village article!

Sasano Falls, upstream of Taki River (滝川), flowing through Totsukawa Village, is one of the Top 100 Waterfalls in Japan. Among the many waterfalls in the Totsukawa Village, this magnificent waterfall with a height of 32 meters can be easily accessed!

For more information on Sasano Falls, please read our Totsukawa Village article!

Most people must have boarded a ropeway at some time in their life. But, what many have not experienced is a human-powered one! Because the ropeway travels between two banks like wild monkeys, this type of ropeway in Nara is called Yaen, which literally means wild monkey!

Find out how you can give this a try in our Totsukawa Village article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.

Tamaki Shrine, situated near 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 37 BC by the imperial court for demon expulsion.

As one of the Shugendō (修験道) training sites, the shrine was also registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (紀伊山地の霊場と参詣道) in 2004.

In the south of Totsukawa Village (十津川村), which features numerous wondrous scenery, the Dorokyō Valley is one of the National Places of Scenery Beauty (特別名勝).

In addition to the sightseeing boat ride that is pretty common in valleys in Japan, you can rent out canoes and SUP boards to paddle your way down the 31 km valley!

For more information, read our Totsukawa Village article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.