Hostess, Margie and Ryokan Owner You drive towards Yamashiro, a pastoral utopia known for its hot springs, beautiful setting, and delicious seafood, and called "the hidden region" because it is tucked into the mountains.

These visual menus, with yummy-looking fixed-price meals complete with prices, often lasso me in when I'm hungry and on the run.

The fire ceremony is a revived tradition dating back to olden times that pays tribute to the spirits of the river.