Akame 48, Green in Cascade
Forty-eight waterfalls that are not really forty-eight, a god riding a red-eyed ox, ninjas and an amphibian that smells of pepper. At Akame, in the mountains of Mie, the forest streams as much as it tells stories.
Dorogawa Onsen, the Mountain Keeps Watch
Pilgrim inns, a black river, lanterns over the asphalt and a medicine bitter enough to keep monks awake: at the foot of Mount Omine, Dorogawa has been the base camp of Japan's mountain ascetics for 1,300 years, and an onsen for only forty.
Easy walk
Omihachiman: Between Rituals and Canals
Omihachiman, a picturesque Japanese town on the shore of Lake Biwa, rich in history and tradition, combining old-world charm with unique experiences.
Serene
Kongorin-ji and its Army of Jizo
Perched on the hills of Shiga, Kongorin-ji is a quiet temple known for its architectural treasures, landscaped gardens, and dazzling maples, with an army of Jizo statues standing guard.
The Contrasts of Gion
A famous district, often over-anticipated, where Kyoto shows all of it at once: its elegance, its staging, its rituals, its crowds, and its most ordinary details.
Some hiking
Odaigahara: A Short Hike between Nara and Mie
Take a hike along the wooden walkways of Odaigahara, a mystical plateau between Nara and Mie where nature and serenity blend.
Some hiking
Wakaura Tenmangu Shrine: The Perched Sanctuary
Discover the Wakaura Tenmangu Shrine, perched over the bay, between legends, marine beauty and Japanese spirituality.
Behind the Bars of Nara Prison
Red brick, star-shaped wings, tiny cells and a future luxury hotel: at Nara, confinement simply changed its clientele. A visit to the empty prison before its next life.
Serene
Hasedera: Peonies and Steps
Hasedera temple in Nara, a spiritual jewel nestled in greenery, famous for its legendary 400 steps and its enchanting peonies.
