Recommended Route Kansai (Kyoto)
Day 1
Visit Northern Kyoto, Where Legends of Oni Still Survive
The first day of your trip starts from Oe Station in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture . Getting off the train, you will see images of oni everywhere. Once you meet up with your local guide, fill up on the famous oni soba noodle at a local eatery. After your meal, visit Moto Ise Naiku Kotai Shrine, which preserves a tradition of prayers to repel the oni, and follow the past traces of the oni as you walk along the Kinki Nature Trail and the Miyazu Kaido. Following a tour of the Japan Oni Cultural Museum, with exhibits related to oni legends, check in at Green Lodge next to the museum.
Day 2
The Nature and Beautiful Scenery of the Oeyama Mountains Soothe the Soul
Wake up a little early to appreciate the sea of clouds at Onitake Inari Shrine, a spot with fantastic views. The magical scene can be viewed early in the morning in fall and winter and will take your breath away. After heading back to the lodge for breakfast, set out on the trail through the Oeyama mountains. Walking along the pleasant trail route through the meadows, there is a memorial tower along the way built for Shuten-doji–the strongest oni in Japanese history. On completing the journey of about 5.5 kilometers, you will arrive at the Kaya Yama no Ie lodge midway along the trail through the Oeyama mountains. Gather around the fire while you take in the peaceful rural scenery, and relax your body and mind as you indulge in the creative cuisine made with local vegetables, fish, and game.
Day 3
The Surviving Local Legends, and the Efforts of Those Who Preserve Them
After a healthy Japanese breakfast, continue on the trail through the Oeyama mountains. You’ll head towards the sea through the mountain pass along the the old Miyazu Kaido featuring stone paving laid down 1,300 years ago. Here and there are spots where it is said that oni used to live. To pass on these precious historical remains to future generations, local students, guide clubs, and destination marketing organizations run conservation activities like cleaning events and guided walks. After tackling this 11-kilometer section of the trail, you’ll head to your lodgings for the night, a traditional Japanese inn called Seikiro that goes back to the Edo period. Experience art and history as the owner gives you a tour of the building, referred to as the "little museum" due to the many precious works of art on display.
Day 4
A Beautiful Bridge to the Heavens
The final day of your trip has come. Having filled up on a delicious breakfast at Seikiro, start out on a walk from the castle town area of the Miyazu Kaido. As you walk among the atmospheric rows of pine trees on Amanohashidate , One of Japan’s Three Scenic Views, you’ll start the uphill journey to Nariaiji Temple.
The temple grounds are decorated with illustrated explanations of Shuten-doji, and the enshrined statues of red and blue oni seeming to stand guard in the center of the main hall are an impressive sight. You can also view the sake bottle and cups connected with the legend of Shuten-doji that are kept at Nariaiji Temple. After lunch at a local eatery, travel on a tour boat where you can admire Amanohashidate from the water on your way to Amanohashidate Station where you’ll take a well-deserved hot spring bath. In the evening, savor Italian cuisine made with vinegar brewed from organic rice grown in Miyazu. Then gently fall asleep savoring the memories of your trip, enjoying the history, culture, and cuisine of northern Kyoto with all five senses.
The temple grounds are decorated with illustrated explanations of Shuten-doji, and the enshrined statues of red and blue oni seeming to stand guard in the center of the main hall are an impressive sight. You can also view the sake bottle and cups connected with the legend of Shuten-doji that are kept at Nariaiji Temple. After lunch at a local eatery, travel on a tour boat where you can admire Amanohashidate from the water on your way to Amanohashidate Station where you’ll take a well-deserved hot spring bath. In the evening, savor Italian cuisine made with vinegar brewed from organic rice grown in Miyazu. Then gently fall asleep savoring the memories of your trip, enjoying the history, culture, and cuisine of northern Kyoto with all five senses.
