Nara

Oyagyu Town

Located next to Yagyu Town, Oyagyu Town is a historical village known to those in the know, preserving even quieter satoyama scenes. Dotted throughout are Yamaguchi Shrine, once the tutelary deity of the Yagyu clan, and temples conveying historical depth despite their simplicity. Here exists the "authentic Japanese farming village" precisely because it hasn't been commercialized for tourism; the surrounding mountains and farm landscapes create an illusion that time stopped hundreds of years ago. For hikers on the Yagyu Highway, it is a precious area to escape bustle and listen only to their footsteps and natural sounds. It is a...

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Yagyu Town

Yagyu Town in eastern Nara City, known as the "Village of Swordsmen," is a land where Bushido and Zen spirits live on, having served as the base for the "Yagyu Clan," sword instructors to the Edo-period Shoguns. The legendary "Itto-seki" (split-in-two rock), said to have been sliced by Yagyu Sekishusai while fighting a Tengu, has recently become a holy site for fans worldwide as a model for a famous anime. The town retains a calm atmosphere conveying samurai culture, with Hotoku-ji (the Yagyu family temple) and the former Yagyu Domain Chief Retainer's Residence. Walking through quiet bamboo groves and mountain...

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Oyodo Town

Oyodo Town, connecting the Nara Basin and the mountains of Yoshino, is a fertile town known as the gateway to the World Heritage Mt. Yoshino and as the "Home of Pears." Especially in the pear orchards of the Oyada Plateau, white flowers cover the land in spring, and the area bustles with people enjoying the harvest in autumn. On the hills overlooking the clear streams of the Yoshino River, there are historical stages mentioned in the Manyoshu, as well as beautiful golf courses and campgrounds. It offers a pleasant landscape merging urban convenience with rich nature, making it a perfect...

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Shimoichi Town

Shimoichi Town, at the entrance to Mt. Yoshino, is a historical town that once flourished as a Yoshino timber and commerce hub, also known as the place where "disposable chopsticks" (waribashi) were first made in Japan. In the Edo period, it was so bustling it was called "Shimoichi Sen-ken" (a thousand houses), remnants of which can still be seen in the heavy townscapes. It is also a production area for "Shimoichi Persimmons," a famous autumn taste; trees laden with fruit symbolize the satoyama autumn. With traditional "hand-made washi" skills and many historic temples, it is a deep place to thoroughly...

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Nosegawa Village

Nosegawa Village, adjacent to Mt. Koya in southwestern Nara, is one of Japan's least populated municipalities, a place where overwhelming "silence" and "mystery" are preserved. Famous for being prone to sea of clouds, the sight of mountains floating in a sea of white mist in the early morning is truly an other-worldly heavenly realm. The Kohechi route of the World Heritage Kumano Kodo passes through, with a sacred air where pilgrims purified their minds still lingering. Home to "Tatsuri Kojin," one of Japan's three major Kojin shrines, the high-altitude precincts offer views of the Kii Mountains. It is the ultimate...

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Yamazoe Village

Yamazoe Village, in the Yamato Highlands of northeastern Nara, is a mystical and peaceful village featuring megalithic worship sites and beautiful tea plantations. Mysterious massive rocks like the "Ushigamine Iwaya Masugata" and "Mt. Kono," said to be related to stellar movements, allow you to feel the awe ancient people held for rocks and stars. At Mt. Kono, azaleas blooming in early summer and camping under starry skies are popular. It is also a production area for high-quality "Yamato Tea," with orderly tea plantations representing traditional Japanese beauty. It's a place for a spiritual satoyama experience of stones, stars, and greenery,...

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Kurotaki Village

Kurotaki Village, located almost in the center of Nara and called the "Navel of Yoshino," is a village full of wood warmth surrounded by beautiful cedar forests and clear streams. Forests cover about 97% of the village, and traditional Yoshino forestry skills still live on. Centered around the roadside station "Yoshinoji Kurotaki," it features extensive outdoor spots for families, such as suspension bridge adventures and BBQ along beautiful mountain streams. The food culture utilizing mountain blessings like local "konnyaku" and "wild boar dishes" is also a major attraction. Spending time listening to the murmuring river in deep green mountains teaches...

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Mitsue Village

Mitsue Village, at the eastern end of Nara on the border with Mie, is a sacred land with legends that Princess Yamato-hime-no-mikoto placed her staff (mitsue) here while searching for a place to enshrine Amaterasu-omikami. The village symbol, "Mt. Mitsune," is famous for its beautiful "soft rime" in winter, attracting many hikers seeking the crystalline spectacular view of white trees. With streetscapes retaining remnants of a post town on the Ise Hon-kaido and campgrounds known for beautiful starry skies, it is an area where seasonal nature and legends resonate. It promises a soul-cleansing experience for those wanting to feel the...

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Takatori Town

Takatori Town in central Nara is a historical town that developed as the castle town of "Takatori Castle," one of Japan's three major mountain castles. The castle ruins atop the 584-meter summit currently have no buildings, but the massive stone walls convey its former majesty, praised as "Japan's best mountain castle" for appearing to float in the sky. The "Tosa Kaido" at the foot is lined with old townhouses since the Edo period; the "Townhouse Doll Tour" in spring is particularly charming for its warm atmosphere valuing regional tradition. It also has history as one of Japan's leading "medicine towns,"...

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Kamikitayama Village

Kamikitayama Village, in southeastern Nara, is a rugged yet beautiful village known as a training ground for Shugendo, with the World Heritage "Omine Okugakemichi" route passing through. It is a base for "Hakkaigadake," the highest peak in Kinki, and "Odaigahara," a famous scenic road. Odaigahara is a place where one can firsthand feel "Japanese natural mystery," with rich moss and standing dead trees created by being one of Japan's heaviest rainfall areas. Hot springs also well up in the village, allowing you to savor mountain blessings after a rigorous climb or drive. This land where untouched nature remains is a...

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Higashiyoshino Village

Higashiyoshino Village, at the foot of the Daiko Mountains in east-central Nara, is a village of "aesthetics of silence" enveloped in clear streams and deep forests. It has history as the final site of the "Tenchu-gumi," pioneers of the Meiji Restoration, with many historic sites dotted throughout. It is also known as the place where the Japanese wolf was last sighted, its mystical image sparking visitors' imaginations. You can experience Japanese spiritual culture living with water through river activities at the clear "Takami River" or worshipping at the beautiful "Niu Kawakami Shrine (Nakasha)." It is ideal for those wanting to...

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Soni Village

Soni Village, located in the highlands of northeastern Nara, is a village of overwhelming scenery, counted among "The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan." The main highlight is the "Soni Highlands," where in autumn, the pampas grass as far as the eye can see shines like a golden carpet, attracting many travelers seeking mystical sunsets. Surrounding it are powerful rock walls like "Byobu-iwa" and "Yoroitake," offering dynamic beauty created by volcanic eruptions. With hot spring facilities available, you can heal your fatigue after hiking. It is a hidden gem of Shiga (Nara) where beautiful satoyama landscapes and grand nature coexist.

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Shimokitayama Village

Shimokitayama Village, at the southeastern tip of Nara, is a village where the beauty of water stands out, embraced by deep mountains of the Yoshino-Kumano National Park. The symbols "Ikehara Dam" and "Nanairo Dam" are known to anglers worldwide as sacred sites for black bass fishing. "Shimokitayama Sports Park," built looking up at a massive dam wall, features campgrounds and hot springs, making it ideal for outdoor experiences in nature. At night, a starry sky unseen in cities spreads out; the deep green forests and crystal-clear water provide ultimate refreshment and let visitors feel the life force of Japan's deep...

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Koryo Town

Koryo Town, in the central Nara Basin, is a romance-filled town with legends of being the setting of Japan's oldest story, "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" (Kaguya-hime's hometown). The town is dotted with many burial mounds, including "Suyama Burial Mound," one of Japan's largest scallop-shaped tumuli, conveying the power of ancient clans. It's also famous as one of Japan's top "Sock" production areas, passing traditional textile skills to the present. At the vast "Umami-kyuryo Park," seasonal flowers decorate historic sites, bustling with families enjoying picnics and strolls. It's an attractive area where the world of myth, beautiful parks, and...

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Yamatotakada City

Yamatotakada City, in west-central Nara, is a vibrant commercial city that once flourished with cotton and textile industries. Along the Takada River flowing through the center, a magnificent cherry blossom tunnel continues for about 2.5 km in spring, and you can enjoy the mystical illuminated "Senbonzakura" (thousand cherries) at night. Dotted with lively shopping streets loved by locals and historic temples, its charm lies in feeling the "real Japanese daily life" not overly commercialized for tourism. With excellent transportation, it's convenient as a base for visiting nearby Asuka and Kashihara, allowing you to touch regional food culture and warm hospitality.

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Kashiba City

Kashiba City, in northwestern Nara, offers good access to Osaka and features a coexistence of a vibrant bedroom community and rich historical heritage. The National Natural Monument "Donzurubō" is a scenic spot where white tuff has been eroded into strange shapes, offering an other-worldly panorama of white rock surfaces. It also holds interesting geological stories, such as the culture of "Sanukite" stones mined from ancient Mt. Nijo. You can enjoy modern shopping spots and natural formative beauty simultaneously, making it a perfect base for travelers wanting to actively explore western Nara.

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Katsuragi City

Katsuragi City, at the western edge of the Nara Basin and foot of Mt. Nijo, is known as the "Birthplace of Sumo," recorded in Japan's oldest official history, "Nihon Shoki." The local "Taima-dera Temple" is a renowned site housing Japan's oldest stone lantern and National Treasures from the Hakuho period, a mystical place with legends of mandalas. Surrounded by lush mountains, peaceful rural landscapes spread, and in autumn, the sunset over Mt. Nijo dyes the town golden. With traditional agriculture and fermentation culture still active, it's a heartwarming area where the calm daily life unique to regional Japanese cities harmonizes...

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Gose City

Gose City, in the southwestern Nara Basin, is a historical town at the foot of the Katsuragi range associated with ancient clans like the "Katsuragi" and "Kamo." The "Katsuragi Kodo," one of Japan's oldest roads, passes through, with shrines serving as stages for Japanese mythology and beautiful terraced rice fields still carefully protected. In "Gose-machi," retaining the Edo-period townhouse atmosphere, traditional sake and soy sauce breweries line the streets for a slow stroll. A ropeway climbs to the Mt. Katsuragi summit, world-famous for its azaleas. It's a calm and attractive area where the world of myth and Japan's peaceful satoyama...

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Yamatokoriyama City

Yamatokoriyama City, located in the northern Nara Basin, is a castle town that flourished around "Koriyama Castle," built by Toyotomi Hidenaga. Today, the castle ruins are known for their beautiful stone walls and cherry blossoms, perfect for historical strolls. Furthermore, this city is world-famous as the "City of Goldfish," with tanks and unique objects featuring swimming goldfish dotted everywhere, delighting visitors. Traditional indigo dyeing experiences and visiting cafes in old townhouses are also attractive. Located right next to ancient Nara, it is a fun town merging castle town vitality and unique goldfish culture, with discoveries at every turn.

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Kashihara City

Kashihara City, located in central Nara, is a historical stronghold known as the "Birthplace of Japan," where Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor, is said to have ascended the throne. The city encapsulates various eras of Japan, from the grand Kashihara Jingu Shrine to Imai-cho, where over 500 Edo-period townhouses are preserved, and the Fujiwara-kyo Ruins, Japan's first full-scale capital. Beyond its historical depth, it offers modern conveniences like shopping malls, making it an excellent base for tourism. It is an energetic city that stimulates intellectual curiosity, allowing you to trace Japan's journey from its beginnings to the present day.

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Asuka Village

Asuka Village, in the southern Nara Basin, was the site of the capital during the 7th century when Japan's nation-building began; the whole village is overflowing with historical heritage so much it's called an "open-air museum." Mysterious historic sites like the "Ishibutai Burial Mound," "Takamatsuzuka Burial Mound," and Asuka-dera Temple (housing Japan's oldest Great Buddha) are scattered within peaceful terraced rice fields and rural landscapes. This village's unique calm time gives visitors nostalgia and deep peace. A journey feeling the breeze via rental cycle while touching Japan's historical mysteries, rich nature, and the gentle lives of locals is a luxury...

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Ikaruga Town

Ikaruga Town, in the northwestern Nara Basin, is a historical town where Japanese Buddhist culture flourished, home to the World Heritage "Horyu-ji Temple" established by Prince Shotoku. Dotted with temples strongly retaining ancient appearances like Horyu-ji (with the world's oldest wooden structures), Hokki-ji (with its beautiful five-storied pagoda), and Horin-ji. Surrounded by peaceful rural landscapes, renting a bicycle to tour historical spots is extremely popular with international travelers. This town, where deep history since Japan's Asuka period harmonizes with quiet satoyama scenery, is ideal for those wanting to leisurely trace the origins of Japanese spirituality.

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Kawakami Village

Kawakami Village, at the headwaters of the Yoshino River (Kino River) in central Nara, is the village of "Water's Source" protected by deep forests and pure water. Home to "Otaki Ryujin Lake," one of Japan's oldest man-made lakes, beautiful cedar forests of "Yoshino Forestry" with over 500 years of history spread around it. Mysterious waterfalls and limestone caves are dotted throughout, letting you directly feel natural energy. Facilities to learn about headwater life and forest culture are also extensive, popular with overseas travelers interested in ecotourism. Surrounded by crystal clear air and murmuring water, it's a special place to touch...

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Gojo City

Gojo City, in western Nara, is a historical town that once flourished as a transportation hub connecting Osaka, Wakayama, and Nara. "Shinmachi-dori Street," lined with heavy Edo-period townhouses, is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, with beautiful streetscapes that let you re-experience the prosperity of the time just by walking. Many attractive spots harmonize history and nature, such as sites associated with the Southern Court and clear streams of the Yoshino River. Particularly famous for traditional "persimmon" production, you can enjoy rich food blessings. It's perfect for travelers wishing to leisurely savor Japanese emotions away...

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Uda City

Uda City, in northeastern Nara, is a historic area appearing in the "Kojiki" and "Nihon Shoki." Cultural heritages are dotted throughout, such as the Matsuyama district with its Edo-period medicine wholesaler streetscapes and "Muro-ji Temple," famous as Women's Koya. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and rural landscapes, seasonal colors vividly decorate historical buildings. Due to the pure water springs, sake brewing is also active. You can experience the uncommercialized richness of regional Japan and the warm lives of locals, chosen by authentic travelers wishing to deeply savor Japanese spirituality and history in a quiet environment.

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Sakurai City

Sakurai City, located in the southeastern Nara Basin, is a treasure trove of history known as the "Hometown of Manyo," where Japan's nation-building began. Dotted with ancient history, it features Omiwa Shrine (one of Japan's oldest), Hase-dera Temple colored with beautiful flowers, and many massive ancient burial mounds (kofun), letting you feel the breath of ancient Japan everywhere. It's also famous as the birthplace of Miwa Somen, with traditional food culture being a major attraction. While being a major tourist destination, it retains a calm atmosphere with peaceful rural landscapes, highly rated by intellectually curious travelers wishing to leisurely learn...

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Tenkawa Village

Tenkawa Village in central Nara is a mystical area known as the "Village Near Heaven," surrounded by high-altitude mountains. Home to a portion of the UNESCO World Heritage "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," it has flourished since ancient times as a training ground for mountain worship. Within the village are Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha, said to be one of Japan's leading power spots, and Dorogawa Onsen with its row of retro inns, inviting visitors into a fantastic world. It is ideal for hiking in the beautiful "Mitarai Valley" with its transparent blue waters and for seeking summer...

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Totsukawa Village

Located at the southernmost tip of Nara Prefecture, Totsukawa Village is the largest village by area in Japan and a "hidden region" where untouched nature still remains. Approximately 96% of the village is covered in forests, with overwhelming scenery woven by steep mountains, deep canyons, and emerald green clear streams. Nature and faith live on here, with abundant "free-flowing hot spring" water and a part of the historic "Kumano Kodo" pilgrimage route passing through. The spectacular view from the massive "Tanise Suspension Bridge" and the silence of the "Hatenashi Settlement" offer an ultimate retreat, letting adventurous travelers wishing to touch...

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Yoshino Town

Located in central Nara, Yoshino Town is a historical town known as one of Japan's leading cherry blossom spots and a sanctuary for mountain worship. At the World Heritage "Mt. Yoshino," approximately 30,000 cherry trees bloom as if covering the entire mountain, and their overwhelming beauty continues to fascinate tourists from abroad. Flourishing as a base for Shugendo since ancient times, solemn temples like Kinpusen-ji are scattered about, and a sacred air drifts across the whole mountain. It's also famous as a production area for high-quality "Yoshino Cedar," where you can enjoy traditional forestry culture, beautiful wood crafts, and delicious...

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Nara City

Nara City, the capital of Nara Prefecture, is an internationally colorful ancient capital that served as the center of Japan as "Heijo-kyo" in the 8th century. World-famous spots such as the Great Buddha of Todai-ji Temple (the city's symbol) and Nara Park (where thousands of deer play) are gathered within walking distance. In "Naramachi," where traditional townhouses line the streets, you can enjoy visiting sophisticated cafes and general stores while feeling the atmosphere of the Edo period. Providing peaceful time and deep emotion for both first-time international tourists and repeat visitors, this city is the ultimate sightseeing city where historical...

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Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture is the source of Japan's history and culture, having flourished as a former capital. Within the prefecture, numerous historical legacies forming the foundation of Japanese spiritual culture remain, including the World Heritage "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara," Horyu-ji Temple (the world's oldest wooden structure), and the mystical Mt. Yoshino. Unlike adjacent Osaka or Kyoto, quiet prayer spaces spread within rich nature, allowing visitors to forget time and immerse themselves in Japan's original landscape. For travelers wanting to experience the true depth of Japan through seasonal scenery, traditional crafts, and historic food culture, Nara is a special sanctuary that...

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Explore by City

Oyagyu Town

Yagyu Town

Oyodo Town

Shimoichi Town

Nosegawa Village

Yamazoe Village

Kurotaki Village

Mitsue Village

Takatori Town

Kamikitayama Village

Higashiyoshino Village

Soni Village

Shimokitayama Village

Koryo Town

Yamatotakada City

Kashiba City

Katsuragi City

Gose City

Yamatokoriyama City

Kashihara City

Asuka Village

Ikaruga Town

Kawakami Village

Gojo City

Uda City

Sakurai City

Tenkawa Village

Totsukawa Village

Yoshino Town

Nara City

Nara Prefecture