Nara » Yoshino, Tenkawa-mura, Totsukawa
The Yoshino, Tenkawa Village, and Totsukawa areas are also known as "unexplored regions of Japan. We recommend staying at a farmhouse or a homestay where you can experience the traditional way of life and meet the local people.
Yoshino, Tenkawa Village, and Totsukawa are home to such tourist attractions as Yoshinoyama (famous for its cherry blossoms), Tanise Suspension Bridge, Mitaraigorge, Menfudo Cave, and Junitaki Waterfall.
Mitarai Valley, located in Kitazumi, Tenkawa Village, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, is one of the Kansai region’s most beautiful natural destinations. The valley lies along the lower reaches of the Sanjogawa River, a tributary of the Amanogawa River in the Shingu River system, near its confluen...»
Dorogawa Onsen is a historic hot spring destination in Tenkawa Village, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, renowned for its traditional atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings. Located at an elevation of approximately 820 meters at the foot of the Omine mountain range, this mountain retreat ha...»
Menfudo Limestone Cave is a beautiful and mysterious cave known for its richly shaped stalactites and stalagmites. Located in the mountains above Dorogawa in Tenkawa Village, Nara Prefecture, it extends for approximately 170 meters. Its largest chambers measure around 5–6 meters in diameter and more...»
Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha Shrine, commonly known as Tenkawa Shrine, is a historic Shinto shrine in Tsubonouchi, Tenkawa Village, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. Revered for centuries, it stands amid the deep forests and mountains of the Kii Peninsula, where a serene and sacred atmosphere welcomes ...»
Tanize Suspension Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in Totsukawa Village, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. Stretching across the clear waters of the Totsukawa River, also known as the Kumano River, it connects the Uenoji and Tanize districts. This impressive pedestrian bridge is more than...»
Roadside Station Yoshinoji Oto is located near the summit of Ten-tsuji Pass along National Route 168 in Sakamoto, Otocho, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture. It holds a special place in local history as the first roadside station registered in Nara Prefecture and continues to serve as a gateway to the regio...»
Kakinoha-zushi, or persimmon-leaf sushi, is a traditional specialty of Nara Prefecture, particularly the Gojo and Yoshino areas. This distinctive pressed sushi consists of bite-sized portions of vinegared rice topped with slices of fish, traditionally mackerel, and wrapped individually in aromatic p...»
Shishi nabe and shishi-jiru are traditional dishes from the mountainous regions of Nara Prefecture, made with wild boar meat. Shishi nabe is a hearty hot pot, while shishi-jiru is a soup featuring the same distinctive meat. Both are especially comforting during the cold winter months, offering rich ...»
Yoshino honkuzu is a premium, pure white starch made from the roots of the kudzu plant, a climbing perennial in the legume family that grows wild in the mountains and countryside of the Yoshino region in Nara Prefecture. Renowned for its beautiful whiteness, smooth texture, and delicate mouthfeel, i...»
Shiitake mushrooms are prized in Japan for their rich flavor, nutritional value, and distinctive aroma. Their deep, savory taste is sometimes described as the “umami of the mountains,” making them an essential ingredient in traditional Japanese cooking as well as Chinese and Western dishes. Loved fo...»
Persimmons from Nara Prefecture are renowned throughout Japan for their excellent quality and abundant harvests. The prefecture is one of the country's leading producers of this popular autumn fruit, supplying markets nationwide with persimmons prized for their sweetness, texture, and flavor. The h...»
Kaki Cake is an elegant Japanese-style pound cake made with dried persimmons, one of Nara Prefecture’s best-known agricultural specialties. Combining the traditional flavors of Japan with the familiar form of a Western-style cake, this handmade confection is a delicious example of Nara’s distinctive...»
Ayu, or sweetfish, is a prized seasonal delicacy in Nara Prefecture. The clear rivers of the Yoshino region, including the Yoshino River and the Asuka River, have long been associated with this distinctive fish. Wild ayu grow in clean, flowing water, feeding on algae attached to riverbed stones. The...»
Yamato Meat Chicken is a premium local chicken breed raised in Nara Prefecture. It is known for its reddish meat, moderate fat content, and firm, satisfying texture. The meat has a natural sweetness and deep, savory flavor that highlights the distinctive taste of chicken itself. Versatile and flavo...»
Yamato Pork is a premium pork brand raised in Nara Prefecture, known for its finely textured, deep-colored lean meat and delicate marbling. The meat contains a well-balanced amount of high-quality fat that melts smoothly in the mouth, releasing a natural sweetness. Its tender, juicy texture and rich...»
Kuzu ame is a traditional Japanese candy made with authentic kudzu starch from Nara Prefecture. It is known for its light, crisp texture, subtle sweetness, and the smooth, delicate mouthfeel of kudzu. This nostalgic confection offers a comforting taste that reflects the region's long-standing confec...»
Totsukawa Yubeshi is a traditional preserved food handed down through generations in Totsukawa Village and the surrounding mountainous region of southern Nara Prefecture. Unlike the sweet yubeshi confections found in other parts of Japan, this local specialty is a savory delicacy made using whole yu...»
Saigyōzakura is an elegant traditional Japanese confection that brings together two prized ingredients from different regions of Japan: Yoshino kudzu starch from Nara Prefecture and Wasanbon sugar from Kagawa Prefecture, in the Sanuki region. Their combination creates a delicate sweetness and except...»
Nakako Shoyu is a traditional soy sauce producer located in Shinmachi, a district known for its beautifully preserved historic streets. Founded in 1877, the company has maintained the traditional style of an independent soy sauce brewery, using natural fermentation methods to create sauces that brin...»
Oyodo Town is located in central Nara Prefecture, along the right bank of the Yoshino River. Blessed with beautiful natural surroundings and a long history, it serves as an important gateway to the mountainous Yoshino region. The town is also within commuting distance of the Osaka metropolitan area,...»
Located near the center of Nara Prefecture, Shimoichi is a town blessed with beautiful natural surroundings and a rich historical heritage. Situated south of the Yoshino River, the town developed as an important gateway to the Yoshino region as early as the Heian period (794–1185). Its historic stre...»
Kurotaki Village lies in Yoshino District in central Nara Prefecture, where magnificent natural scenery and a rich historical heritage come together. Forests cover approximately 97% of the village's total area, making it one of the important production areas for Yoshino cedar, a prized timber known ...»
Sesonji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Hiso, Oyodo Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. It belongs to the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism and is known by the mountain name Ryōjusen, meaning Vulture Peak. The temple's principal image is a seated statue of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddh...»
Niukawakami Shrine Shimo-sha is a historic Shinto shrine located in Hase, Shimoichi Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. It preserves an ancient tradition of worshipping water deities, reflecting the vital role of rivers, rainfall, and water sources in Japanese spiritual life. The shrine is clas...»
Gangyoji Temple, also known as Shimoichi Gobō, is a historic Buddhist temple located in Shimoichi Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. Nestled at the foot of Mount Gobō on the left bank of the Akino River, it belongs to the Honganji-ha branch of Jōdo Shinshū, or Shin Buddhism. Its formal mountai...»
Kawawake Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Nakato, Kurotaki Village, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. For generations, it has served as the local guardian shrine, or ubusuna-jinja, for six districts of the village: Akataki, Nakato, Terado, Wakigawa, Dōhara, and Miyoshino. Deeply rooted...»
Hōkakuji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple in Kurotaki Village, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. It serves as the head temple of the Hōkakuji school of Shingon Buddhism and has long been associated with the mountain ascetic tradition of Shugendō. The temple's mountain name is Hyakurasan, and it...»
Yoshino Town lies in central Nara Prefecture, surrounded by forested mountains, clear rivers, and beautiful natural landscapes. For centuries, the area has been an important center of Shugendō, a Japanese mountain ascetic tradition that combines elements of Buddhism and Shinto. Its mountains, temple...»
Tsuburo Dam is located in the Kawaraya area of Yoshino Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. Built across the Tsuburo River, part of the Kinokawa River system, it is a gravity-type concrete dam designed primarily to supply agricultural and domestic water. Today, it plays an important role in supp...»
The Yoshino Ropeway is widely known as Japan’s oldest surviving passenger cableway. Officially called the Yoshinoyama Passenger Cableway, it is operated by Yoshino Ōmine Cable Car Co., Ltd. and connects Senbon-guchi Station at the foot of Mount Yoshino with Yoshinoyama Station farther up the mountai...»
Yoshino Mikumari Shrine stands in the Kami-senbon area of Mount Yoshino in Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture. Located within a landscape renowned for its spiritual heritage and celebrated cherry blossoms, the shrine has attracted worshippers for centuries. It is also known as Komori-no-miya, or the Shri...»
Kinpu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine nestled in the Oku-senbon area, deep in the mountains of Yoshino, Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture. Located near Mount Aone-ga-mine in the innermost part of Mount Yoshino, it is dedicated to a deity regarded as the guardian of the land of Yoshino. The shrine has...»
Kinpusenji Temple is located on Mount Yoshino in Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture, and serves as the head temple of Kinpusen-Shugendo. For centuries, it has been a major center of Japanese mountain worship, welcoming ascetic practitioners who train in the mountains and carry on the traditions of Shugen...»
A Sacred Path Through the Kii Mountains The Omine Okugake Trail is a spectacular mountain pilgrimage route stretching approximately 170 kilometers between Yoshino in Nara Prefecture and the Kumano Sanzan, the three great shrines of Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture. Following the rugged main ridgeline ...»
An Ancient Sanctuary on the Banks of the Yoshino River Onamochi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Kawaraya, Yoshino Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. Known locally as Onamuchi-no-miya, it has been revered since ancient times and was recognized as a prestigious shrine of the highe...»
A Shrine Dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo Yoshino Jingu Shrine stands in the Yoshino Mountains of Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture. Dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo, the shrine was established during the Meiji period and is one of the 15 shrines associated with the Kenmu Restoration, the movement that sough...»
A Historic Center of Shugendo and Mountain Worship Sakuramotobo Temple, officially written as 櫻本坊 in Japanese, is a distinguished temple of the Kinpusan Shugen Honshu tradition, located in Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture. Surrounded by the forests and mountains of Yoshino, it has long been an importa...»
A Temple Rooted in the Traditions of Shugendo Chikurin-in Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Yoshinoyama, Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture. Closely associated with the mountain ascetic tradition of Shugendo, it has long served as an important center of religious practice in the sacred mou...»
A Temple Deeply Connected with the History of Yoshino Nyoirinji Temple is a historic Jodo Buddhist temple located in Yoshinoyama, Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture. Its mountain name is Tonoo-san, and its principal image is Nyoirin Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion who is traditionally depicted hol...»
An Important Center of Buddhist Faith and Culture Honzenji Temple is a historic Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple located in Yoshino Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture. It belongs to the Honganji-ha branch of Jodo Shinshu and is also widely known locally as Hangai Gobo. Its formal mountain name is ...»
Discover the Natural and Spiritual Beauty of Tenkawa Tenkawa Village lies in southern Nara Prefecture, surrounded by magnificent mountains, dense forests, and clear rivers. The village promotes itself through the themes of “the land of heaven,” “the land of forests,” and “the land of rivers,” refle...»
A Shrine with a Remarkable Historical Legacy Yoshimizu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Yoshinoyama, Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture. It was originally established as a sub-temple of Kinpusenji Temple and was known as Kissu-in. Today, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property know...»
A Remote Village Surrounded by the Mountains of the Kii Range Nosegawa Village is a small, nature-rich community in southern Nara Prefecture. According to Japan's 2020 national census, it had the smallest population of any municipality in Japan outside the country's remote islands. Surrounded by ma...»
A Remote Village in the Heart of the Kii Mountains Kamikitayama Village is a beautiful mountain community in Yoshino District, southeastern Nara Prefecture. It is one of the prefecture's most sparsely populated municipalities, and its landscape is dominated by vast forests. Approximately 97% of the...»
A Remote Village Surrounded by Forests and Mountains Shimokitayama Village is a scenic mountain community in Yoshino District, southern Nara Prefecture. Blessed with abundant natural beauty, much of the village lies within Yoshino-Kumano National Park. The historic Omine Okugakemichi pilgrimage rou...»
A Vast Mountain Wilderness Shaped by Nature, History, and Faith Totsukawa Village lies at the southernmost tip of Nara Prefecture, deep in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula. Bordering Mie and Wakayama prefectures, it is Japan’s largest village by area, covering approximately 672.38 square kilomete...»
Kawakami Village is a beautiful, forest-covered community in southeastern Nara Prefecture, renowned as one of the traditional centers of Yoshino forestry. For centuries, the area has been known for cultivating Yoshino cedar, prized for its fine grain, strength, and quality. Surrounded by dense fores...»
Higashiyoshino Village is a tranquil mountain community in eastern Nara Prefecture, near the border with Mie Prefecture. Situated along the northern edge of the Daiko Mountains and west of Mount Takami, the village is covered largely by rich forests. Clear rivers, deep green woodlands, and mountains...»
Ōminesanji Temple is one of the most important religious sites associated with Shugendō, Japan's traditional mountain ascetic tradition. Located in Tenkawa Village, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, the temple stands near the summit of Mount Sanjōgatake, which rises to 1,719.2 meters in the Ōmine m...»
Mount Ōmine is a celebrated sacred mountain in southern Nara Prefecture and one of Japan's most important centers of Shugendō, a traditional spiritual practice that combines Buddhist teachings, Shinto beliefs, and rigorous mountain asceticism. The name Ōmine can refer broadly to the entire Ōmine mou...»