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Sumisaka Shrine

"Sumisaka Shrine," enshrined in Uda City, is known for worshipping Japan's oldest deity of health (and protection against epidemics). Its history is said to date back to the era of Emperor Jimmu, and the vermilion shrine buildings nestled in a deep forest stand out vividly against the surrounding greenery. Pure spring water flows within the precincts, cherished since ancient times as a place to purify body and mind. While there are no flashy tourist facilities, stepping inside reveals the silence and solemn air typical of a good old Japanese shrine. It is chosen by travelers wishing to touch traditional Japanese...

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Muro Ryuketsu Shrine

"Muro Ryuketsu Shrine" in Uda City, located near Muro-ji Temple, is a mystical shrine enshrining the Dragon God who has presided over water since ancient times. At the "Okunoin," a short climb from the main hall, there is the "Myokissho Ryuketsu," a giant rock crevice where legends say the Dragon God ascended to heaven. The precincts, surrounded by massive cedar trees, are dim even during the day and filled with a cool, sacred air, fitting the name "power spot." It is a spiritual sanctuary known to those in the know, where one can feel the depth of Japanese Dragon God...

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Koriyama Castle Ruins

"Yamatokoriyama Castle Ruins" is a grand castle site telling the history from the Sengoku to the Edo periods. The highlight is the magnificent stone walls showcasing the high technology of the time; rare remnants like the "Upside-down Jizo," where Buddhist statues and tombstones were repurposed as stones, can be seen. Today, the restored Ote-mon gate and corner towers recreate the former dignity, fascinating history fans. Selected as one of "Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots," the cherries blooming in spring to cover the stone walls add even more glamour to the castle landscape. It is an ideal spot for quiet...

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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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Omiwa Shrine

Omiwa Shrine in Sakurai City is one of Japan's oldest shrines, preserving an ancient form of faith where the mountain itself, "Mt. Miwa," is worshipped as the deity instead of having a main hall. Entering Mt. Miwa means stepping into a divine realm; its deep forest and crystal-clear air provide visitors with sacred power. The magnificent cedar trees lining the approach and the massive Torii gate are overwhelming in scale. Known as the birthplace of somen noodles, tasting the famous "Miwa Somen" after worship is also a delight. It is a supreme sanctuary for travelers wishing to touch Japan's primal...

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Isonokami Jingu Shrine

"Isonokami Jingu" in Tenri City is one of Japan's oldest shrines, a mystical place said to have enshrined weapons as the tutelary deity of the ancient Mononobe clan. The National Treasure worship hall is the oldest existing worship hall structure from the early Kamakura period, its heavy construction overwhelming visitors. Colorful chickens roam freely in the precincts, cherished as messengers of gods, a scene very popular as a unique landscape for overseas tourists. With the "Yamanobe-no-Michi," Japan's oldest road, passing nearby, this place where the breath of ancient Japan can still be felt is a supreme sanctuary for travelers wanting...

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Kashihara Jingu Shrine

"Kashihara Jingu," enshrining Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan, is a shrine boasting the character of a sacred site of Japan's founding, established in the Meiji era. The vast grounds feature solemn wooden buildings including the Main Hall, relocated from the Kashikodokoro of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, creating a refreshing yet sacred atmosphere in harmony with Mt. Unebi (one of the Yamato Sanzan) soaring behind. Stepping inside, urban bustle vanishes, and one can feel the longevity of Japanese history and prayers for peace. Especially crowded during New Year's, it is usually quiet and ideal for travelers wishing to...

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Imai-cho, Kashihara

"Imai-cho" in Kashihara City was constructed as a temple town during the Sengoku period and is the site of a commercial city that once flourished so much it was said, "70% of Yamato's wealth is in Imai" during the Edo period. About 500 traditional townhouses remain, and the entire district is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, maintaining a spectacular view where time seems to have stopped in the Edo period. People still live here; walking through maze-like narrow alleys, one is struck by the beauty of magnificent stone walls and lattice doors born from...

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Byobu-iwa Rock (Soni)

"Byobu-iwa (Folding Screen Rock)" in Soni Village is a spectacular scenic spot with a sheer cliff about 200 meters high and 2 kilometers long, looking like a massive folding screen as its name suggests. Designated as a National Natural Monument, its geometric rock surface with columnar joints created by volcanic activity tells of nature's power. In spring, mountain cherries bloom at the rock's base, and in autumn, foliage vividly colors the vertical walls, creating a spectacular view like a single painting. A public park is maintained at the foot of the rock, making it an ideal spot for travelers wanting...

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Kinpusen-ji Temple

"Kinpusen-ji Temple," soaring on Mt. Yoshino, is the head temple of Shugendo and a representative sacred site of Nara registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The National Treasure main hall "Zao-do" boasts a scale second only to Todai-ji's Daibutsuden among wooden structures, its overwhelming presence taking one's breath away. Enshrined inside are three massive blue 7-meter-tall Buddhas, "Kongo Zao Daigongen," whose mystical appearance combining mercy and power shakes the souls of visitors. The precincts, enveloped in cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage, are filled with the prayer energy of Yamabushi monks who have trained for over 1,300 years,...

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Amatsuji Pass

"Amatsuji Pass" in Gojo City is known as a difficult spot on a historical highway connecting Nara and Wakayama. Located at an altitude of about 800 meters, the panoramic view of the continuous peaks of the Omine mountain range and the sea of clouds spreading below is an overwhelming spectacular view. It's also known as the place where the Tenchu-gumi loyalists of the late Edo period established their headquarters, carrying a heavy atmosphere as a stage of history. Currently popular as a resting spot for drives and touring, the clear mountain air and dynamic landscape provide a refreshing impression to...

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Gojo City Folk Museum

Utilizing the building of the former Gojo District Court constructed in 1874, the "Gojo City Folk Museum" is a precious cultural heritage conveying remnants of the Meiji era. Inside, many valuable materials regarding Gojo's history, local life culture, and the "Tenchu-gumi Incident" that occurred during the turbulent end of the Edo period are displayed. Through the appearance of the courtroom at that time, traditional farming tools, and daily items, you can deeply learn about Japan's modernization process and the wisdom of regional people. Located near Shinmachi-dori with its historical townscape, it is an essential spot for travelers wanting to experience...

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Obikawa Niu Shrine

"Obikawa Niu Shrine," enshrined in Obikawa, Gojo City, is a mystical shrine that has gathered faith since ancient times as a deity presiding over water. Located on the banks of the Niu River, a tributary of the Yoshino River, the area is protected by deep forests and pure water. Upon entering the precincts, you are enveloped in a sacred air created by giant trees and the murmuring stream, where you can feel the roots of Japanese nature worship (animism). Its charm lies in a simple beauty where nature and the shrine buildings appear integrated, without flashy decorations. It is a...

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Ano Imperial Palace Site

This monument in the Anō district of Gojo City symbolizes the turbulent history of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-cho period, where three successive emperors, including Emperor Go-Daigo, stayed here as their Imperial Palace. Surrounded by thatched-roof old houses and beautiful plum groves, a pride as a former capital and a silence watching over the transitions of eras drift here. It is an important stage in the history of the Japanese Imperial Family and a deeply moving spot for history fans. While there are no flashy decorations, its appearance nestled quietly in the mountains lets you feel Japanese resilience and...

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Gojo Shinmachi-dori Street

"Gojo Shinmachi-dori Street" in Gojo City features heavy townhouses from the Edo period that flourished as a post town on the Ise Kaido, remaining for about 1 km as a historical landscape. Starting with the "Kuriyama Residence," said to be Japan's oldest private house, beautifully lined buildings with white walls and lattice windows represent the very essence of Edo-period atmosphere. Designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, you can re-experience the prosperity of the time and the history of Omi merchants just by walking. Recently, sophisticated cafes and restaurants in renovated old buildings have increased, allowing...

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Oka Hachimangu Shrine

"Oka Hachimangu Shrine" in Gojo City is a shrine conveying history and tradition to the present, long loved by local people. Ancient giant trees stand surrounding the magnificent shrine buildings, and dignified, quiet time flows through the precincts. While not a flashy tourist spot, what exists here is an "authentic form of faith" rooted in regional Japan. Seasonal festivals provide precious opportunities to observe regional solidarity and traditional rituals up close. For travelers wanting to feel a simple yet powerful Japanese spirituality and regional bonds, different from the glamour of ancient Nara, this is a soul-resting place.

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Narukawa Senko-ji Temple

"Narukawa Senko-ji Temple," located near Mt. Shigi in Heguri Town, is a sacred site of Shugendo said to have been opened by En-no-Gyoja and is a venerable ancient temple known affectionately as "Moto-Sanjō" (Original Mt. Sanjo). The precincts, enveloped in deep forest, feature a training ground set against a massive rock wall where rigorous ascetic practices are still conducted today. Visitors are surrounded by the sounds of water and birds echoing in the silence, feeling a sacred air that makes one forget daily life. With beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves, it is a hidden gem for travelers...

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Kamiyu Onsen

"Kamiyu Onsen," located even deeper in the mountains along the Kamiyu River from Totsukawa Onsen, is a hidden spa where the word "hideaway" fits perfectly. Some inns feature wild open-air baths built directly on the riverbed, allowing for a bathing experience that feels integrated with nature while listening to the murmuring stream. The water is slightly hot and is a sodium bicarbonate spring said to have high skin-beautifying effects. There are few private houses nearby, and you can gaze at the starry sky at night. It is a sanctuary giving ultimate healing to travelers wanting to feel the spirit of...

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Totsukawa Onsen

Located in southern Totsukawa Village, "Totsukawa Onsen" is the busiest hot spring area in the village, spreading along the shores of Lake Futatsuno Dam. Despite its relatively recent history, having been discovered by a charcoal burner in 1904, it is world-renowned as the first onsen area in Japan to make a "100% Free-flowing Source Water Declaration." The open-air baths where you soak while feeling the refreshing breeze across the lake surface are exceptional, offering views of the seasonal colors of the mountains. With eateries and footbaths nearby, it serves as a resting base for hikers on the Kumano Kodo and...

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Tosenji Onsen

Located almost in the center of Totsukawa Village, "Tosenji Onsen" is the oldest hot spring in the village, a hidden spa where Sengoku warlords are said to have healed their wounds. Inns are dotted on high ground overlooking the clear streams of the Totsukawa River, and every facility offers the luxury of "100% free-flowing source water" bathing. The water, with a faint scent of sulfur, has a skin-smoothing effect and heals travel fatigue from the core. The quiet environment surrounded by deep green mountains is ideal for travelers wanting to escape urban bustle and immerse themselves in Japan's rich nature...

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Kumano Kodo / Hatenashi

"Hatenashi Settlement" in Totsukawa Village is a beautiful village truly worthy of being called a "Village in the Sky," located along the Kohechi route of the World Heritage Kumano Kodo. Traditional old houses line the mountain ridge, and the cobblestones of the ancient path passing through them are engraved with the long history of pilgrims. The view of overlapping mountains from the settlement is filled with silence and beauty that makes you completely forget daily bustle. It conveys the peaceful life of people living in harmony with nature, Japan's original landscape, making it a sanctuary for a lifelong memory for...

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Tanise Suspension Bridge

A representative spot of Totsukawa Village, the "Tanise Suspension Bridge" is one of Japan's largest wire bridges for daily use, measuring 297 meters long and 54 meters high. Walking across the bridge suspended over the massive Totsukawa canyon offers a simultaneous experience of the thrill of swaying with each step and a panoramic view of the emerald green river surface below. The sensation of being enveloped by mountains and sky is truly like an "aerial walk." Courageously crossing to the other side reveals the lifestyle of deep mountain villages, a place where nature's grandeur and human wisdom merge for a...

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Dorokyo Gorge / Doro-hatcho

"Dorokyo Gorge," straddling the borders of Totsukawa Village, Wakayama, and Mie, is a grand canyon designated as a National Special Scenic Spot. The area known as "Doro-hatcho" is particularly stunning, featuring steep cliffs and strangely shaped rocks continuing for 1.2 km, weaving a mystical view with cobalt blue waters. Viewing the sheer cliffs from a sightseeing water-jet boat or river boat is overwhelming, and the seasonal colors of the mountains reflected on the water look like a painting. This is an indispensable and moving spot for travelers wanting to feel the dynamic formative beauty of Japan's nature firsthand.

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Sasa-no-Taki Waterfall

"Sasa-no-Taki Waterfall," nestled deep within the mountains of Totsukawa Village, is a renowned waterfall selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls. The sight of water cascading down a massive rock wall for approximately 32 meters, combined with the surrounding primeval forest, radiates a divineness that leaves visitors speechless. The area around the basin is filled with overlapping giant boulders and the intense spray of crystal-clear water, brimming with powerful natural energy. The path to reach it is by no means flat, but what awaits is an overwhelming silence and beauty worthy of the name "hidden region." It is a...

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