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This blog will introduce you to some of the great spots and activities in the Northern Kansai Region of Japan.

Kinosaki Onsen

-Feel the nostalgia of old onsen town

Kinosaki Onsen has allured many famous Japanese artists and writers as well as locals for over 1,300 years.  It is one of the most photogenic onsen towns in Japan with arched footbridges crisscrossing over the town’s gently-sloped river, providing the perfect backdrop for photos. The wonderfully-preserved architecture and authentic hot spring ambience can be seen and experienced along every street and alleyway. Listen to the rhythmic and calming clip-clopping of geta (traditional wooden sandals) as people stroll along the softly lit streets of Kinosaki Onsen.

Perhaps its biggest feature is town’s seven public bath houses. Each one has its own unique style and history. Most local ryokan include a ticket that gives you access to all seven for free with your stay.
It is also worth mentioning that all seven of the public bathhouses allow people with tattoos of any size, color, or shape.

Apart from trying one or more of the public bath houses, Journey to the East’s recommended activity while you are in Kinosaki Onsen is to visit Onsen-ji Temple. Onsen-ji Temple is the hot spring’s guardian temple. Visit the temple, as many have done before you, before entering these waters and receiving their healing powers. These hot spring waters are known for their healing abilities and this is where much of the town’s fame first came from. Onsen-ji Temple is located at the back of Kinosaki town midway up Mt. Daishi. You can climb the stone steps or take the ropeway gondola up to the temple.

Amanohashidate

-One of the top three scenic views of Japan

Amanohashidate is an iconic land bridge that straddles the Japanese Sea and Miyazu Bay. The land bridge itself has thousands of pine trees of all different varieties and beaches on both sides of the ‘bridge’ spanning 3.6K. Amanohashidate translates to “bridge to heaven” because it appears to be a pathway connecting heaven and earth when viewed from the mountains that rise above it on either side. The sandbar is quite thin—just 20 meters wide at its narrowest point. Most of it is occupied by pine trees. Amanohashidate is regarded as one of the top three most beautiful landscapes of Japan, along with Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture and Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

You can walk or cycle on the sandbar, take a cruise across the bay, visit several lookouts and see historically significant temples and shrines. Amanohashidate hosts many unique and high-quality accommodation choices and is an ideal place to base while you explore Northern Kansai.

Ine fishing village

-UN Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World

The village of Ine is like nowhere else in the world, and that’s not hyperbole. The village is built on the waters of Ine Bay, and the 230 “funaya” (boat houses) that line the bay trace their origins back to the Edo period. While Japan historically had other towns built along the water like Ine, natural disasters such as typhoons have destroyed them. But Ine village is enveloped by mountains that separate it from the Japanese Sea and it remained safely nestled within a lush mountain-scape.

A symbol of Ine village is funaya. Traditionally used as boat house and provide extra storage/living space, now many of these historic buildings have been converted into Japanese inns and quaint cafes while still retaining their original designs.

Miyama village and surrounds

-Traditional farming and crafts

The hinterland area from the Sea of Japan still retains traditional farming villages and woodland. It is rich in traditional crafts such as kimono silk fabric, washi paper making and sword blacksmithing. For travelers to this area, there is the opportunity for farm stays where you can learn the traditional farming methods of Japan, hiking and cycling, and visiting studios of skilled craft people.

Miyama village is one of those villages. Unlike most of the other thatched roof houses found in Japan, most of Miyama’s 200 houses remain private residences. Some of the residents are craftspeople, skilled in such practical arts as basket making and roof thatching. Kayabuki-no- Sato is Miyama’s main village, made up of 39 houses, the largest concentration of thatched roof houses in Japan.

These areas are mostly accessed by trains. So, why not travel north, beyond the golden route and the major cities of Kansai such as Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, to discover the beauty and hidden treasures of traditional Japan.

For more information, visit Visit Northern Kansai. If you would like to have a private tour including these areas designed by experts, please visit our Private Tours page or Contact Us directly.

Entsu-in (Matsushima, Miyagi)

Entsu-in is a Buddhist temple located in the town of Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. Matsushima is also known as one of the “Three Best Views of Japan” (Nihon Sankei). The Entsu-in’s evening illumination in autumn is a must-see! It is an amazing experience, especially when the trees in the garden and footpaths at the temple are lit up. The beauty of the reflections off the water creates an everlasting impression. You will feel that you are in the magical world in this Japanese garden in autumn.

Eikando (Kyoto)

It is needless to say that Kyoto has more than its fair share of magnificent Japanese gardens in autumn. Eikando is in Kyoto and it has been regarded as one of the best autumn colours viewing spots for more than 1,000 years. The temple has a long history, and there are a variety of old buildings and pond gardens that you can explore. There are more than 3,000 maple trees that turn to red and orange, so you can imagine the mass of colours at the autumn peak season around mid-November.

Jojakko-ji (Arashiyama, Kyoto)

Jojakko-ji in Arashiyama, Kyoto is also on our list of the best Japanese gardens during autumn leaves season. The temple is surrounded by the beautiful nature and usually less crowded than other places in Kyoto. As the temple sits on the slope of the mountain, you can see amazing scenery of the cityscape of Kyoto from the lookout area at the top of the temple.

Komyozen-ji (Dazaifu, Fukuoka)

Komyozen-ji is at Dazaifu in Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu island. It has traditional stone zen gardens also known as moss temple (koke dera). The green moss represents the land, and the white pebbles represent the sea. Beautiful red maple leaves over the garden make the temple a very popular autumn colours spot.
Komyozen-ji is a few minutes walk from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine which is also worth visiting while you are in Fukuoka.

Rikugien (Tokyo)

You can also find spacious traditional Japanese gardens in Tokyo, and many of them are renowned for their autumn beauties. Easily accessed by taxi or subway, Rikugien has been counted as one of the two major landscaping gardens in Tokyo along with Koishikawa Korakuen since the Edo period. During the peak season at Rikugien, the illumination lights up the autumn leaves and creates breathtaking autumn scenery.

Hope you enjoyed our pick of best 5 Japanese gardens in autumn, and we would like to hear your picks, too.

Journey to the East has released 2021 Autumn Tours of Japan. We have wide ranging tours covering all regions of Japan and on many interesting themes from food to walking. Please check out and give us a call!

Please visit our Autumn Tours in Japan 

Like many, and because of their nick name, I jumped to the conclusion that snow monkeys only entered the water in winter. On a recent visit to the ancient town of Shibu Onsen we also went to the park (only about 2.5ks away). Not expecting to see these creatures at this time of the year (summer) – I was surprised.

The bigger surprise was just like humans, the youngsters were fooling about in the water. Did you know that not only can they swim but they enjoy it too? They seem to ignore the visitors and just have fun. Although it was quite warm, the monkeys only seemed to play in the hot spring water pool (about 30C in summer and about 40C in winter). There are pristine cool streams and rivers just nearby yet they are not a ‘fun’ area it seems. If you click on the picture below you will see a video of the tykes we saw in action.

Kamikochi is a National Park and caters well for tourists. Walking paths are well equipped and varied throughout the area from boardwalks over ponds and streams to wide paths leading into virgin birch forests. The water is so clear you can watch the trout as they swim by.It is located about 1,600 meters above sea-level and the highest temperature in July is a comfortable 21 degrees, which makes an ideal summer time respite in the midst of hot Japanese summers.

It is also known as a power spot. Mountain climbing was regarded as a practice of natural worship and Kamikochi and surrounding mountains were climbed by Buddhist monks before mountain climbing was introduced as leisure by westerners in Meiji era.

We are very excited to include Kamikochi in our Walking Tours. Keep watching!