4 Places in Japan That Take You Back In Time

Located north of Kyoto, the Northern Mountains (Kitayama) and along the slender lake Biwa-ko, is a slice of natural beauty that reaches almost all the way to the Sea of Japan. The rural farming village of Ohara features the beautiful Sanzen-in temple, complete with its highly-photogenic garden, Yusei-en, and several acres of hydrangeas that bloom in the spring and summer. There’s also a hike to a waterfall and to the nearby village of Jakko-in, another traditional village. Further on are a pair of valleys, Kurama and Kibune, with lovely hiking to several sites, the beautiful temple Kurama-dera, and Kurama’s onsen, one of the few traditional hot springs within striking distance of Kyoto.

The Hida folk village, or Hida-no-Sato, is a wonderful chance to see many styles of traditional Japanese houses and buildings in a natural setting. There are displays of rural life, showing how it was lived in centuries past, and there are even some good views of the Japan Alps. 

This small complex, founded in the 9th century on a high plain surrounded by eight mountain peaks, is one of Japan’s most unusual locales. It is a spiritual mecca of Japanese Buddhism including Oku-no-in, a memorial hall that is surrounded by a beautiful, and possibly spooky Buddhist cemetery. This is where followers of Kobo Daishi wait for him to leave his tomb in the same cemetery, when the future Buddha arrives. The complex has grown over the 12 centuries since Kobo Daishi founded it to contain more than 100 temples and shrines. 

Most of Japan is mountainous, but there are few natural places that can beat Kamakochi and the alpine mountains that surround it. With trails of all levels of difficulty, some of which can be hiked for up to a week, with stops at mountain huts and a few onsen, the one flaw is that since the area is only open from May through October, you may have to compete with many others who are eager to get back to the land. But with some timing, early departures and weekday trips, you may be able to find a little bit of nature all to yourself.