Culture Katsuragi 28 Shuku Kyozuka Trail Gary Luscombe A mysterious pilgrimage trail through the mountains separating Osaka, Wakayama and Nara Prefectures. This ancient route between..
Food Super Ume - Old Poems and New Health Alena Eckelmann Ume, the Japanese plum, is in full bloom in February. Ume appreciation reached poetic heights in the Manyoshu poem collection from..
Activities Sakura Season at Shichikawa Dam Kim Bergström The Shichikawa Dam in Wakayama may be a man-made waterway, but there's plenty of natural beauty to enjoy here as well. There..
9 Activities Rhododendron Mountain in Totsukawa Village Alena Eckelmann The Rhododendron is a flower of spring in mountainous Totsukawa Village in Nara Prefecture. The Rhododendron flower park is located..
Activities Toyono Cosmos Festival 2025 Early Sep - Late Oct Each year in autumn, Osaka's Toyono Cosmos Park comes alive with around a million colorful flowers in bloom for visitors to..
Activities Kiyozumi Cosmos Festival 2025 Mid - Late Oct Each year from around late September through until late October, 5 million cosmos flowers bloom in a space of 7 hectares at the..
Activities Hydrangea Season at Yatadera Temple 2025 May 31st - Jun 30th From June 1st until July 10th each year, Nara's Yatadera Temple opens its hydrangea garden for the public to enjoy. The hydrangeas..
Activities Hydrangea Season at Mimuroto-ji Temple 2025 May 31st - Jul 6th Each year during Japan's rainy season, Kyoto's Mimuroto-ji Temple opens their hydrangea garden, which is filled with around..