Yoshino Full Day Cycling + Hiking Tour
Description
A full day tour which takes into account all that the amazing mountain town of Yoshino has to offer. Made for those who love cycling, hiking, and exploring historical sites. Our expert local English-speaking guides will give you the best experience possible for a deep dive into the Yoshino region. Description: Ride along the scenic Yoshino river, past lumber yards, ancient shrines, and small mountain settlements as you make your way to the hidden valley of Kisadani. Hike up the Manyo no Michi path, an area whose beauty is written about in Japan’s oldest collection of poetry. After a stop at Takataki Waterfall, make the ascent through the forest to the mountain temple district of Yoshinoyama and visit Kinpusen-ji Zao-do Hall, a base for Shugendo mountain worship for over 1,300 years. Enjoy lunch at a local ridgeline-based restaurant, take some time to explore the town, and shop for gifts at the many local shops. Hike back down to the bikes and ride back to the station.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Yoshino Town is located in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula in southern Nara Prefecture and has a deep history connected with Shugendo mountain worship and a 500-year-old timber industry. The cycling section of this tour will follow the Yoshino River, which runs through the center of the town and into backcountry to the west.
Atmospheric forest shrine dedicated to Emperor Tenmu. Features a covered-bridge entrance over the Kisa River and an 800-year-old giant shinboku sacred tree.
A temple district with World Heritage status built along a mountain ridgeline. It is said that this area was first established with the founding of Kinpusen-ji Temple around 1,300 years ago. The ancient Omine Okugake Michi Pilgrimage Path runs through this area, connecting with the Kumano Kodo Routes farther south. The area is packed with fascinating history and culture to explore, including the vast groves of sakura blossom trees, which are a holy symbol of the local Shugendo faith. There are also a number of local restaurants, shops, and ryokan facilities that cater to visitors.
Ancient Shugendo mountain temple founded around 1,300 years ago. Features amazing views over the surrounding mountain landscape and the 500-year-old Zao-do Hall, the 2nd largest Buddha Hall in the country. The tour includes a walkthrough of Zao-do Hall with explanations of the Shugendo-related artwork contained inside.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for those who do not like to exercise
- Because of the active nature of this tour (especially the hiking portion), the schedule of the tour may change depending on the pace of participants and/or other unforeseen circumstances. If the guide determines that the tour is running too far over schedule, they may make adjustments to the itinerary in order to keep the schedule within the allotted 7hr 30min time frame. Just in case, we kindly ask all guests to leave a wide buffer of time between the end of this tour and their next destination.
- This tour is also open during the season of the cherry blossoms in Yoshinoyama with a few alterations: 1) Prices will be increased due to increased demand, length of tour, and the price of entering Zao-do Hall. During the cherry blossom season, Zao-do Hall’s three giant statues of the deity Zao-gongen are unveiled for the public to see. These statues are an amazing sight and worth the time to see, but the price of admission to the temple does increase for the duration of this special event. 2) Because of the huge crowds of people who visit Yoshino during this time, everything will almost certainly take longer to do - walking the streetscape of Yoshinoyama, shopping for goods, entering Zao-do Hall, etc. We estimate the time will be around 8 hours, but a set schedule cannot be guaranteed. The guide(s) will do their best to keep the group on schedule. 3) Lunch in a restaurant in Yoshinoyama is not something that can be reasonably accommodated due to the crowds so we ask that all guests bring a bento lunch box that can be eaten outdoors, ideally under the beautiful cherry blossom trees of Yoshinoyama (if space is available).
Reviews(1)
What an unforgettable tour!! I am determined to come back and experience it again. Cycling along the Yoshino river and through the logging areas was a great experience. The guide was a fountain of knowledge and explained all about the local forestry industry. I loved visiting Sakuragi Shrine nestled in the Kisadani valley where I could hear the soothing sound of the river and admire the magnificent 800 year old cedar that towers above everything. It was truly such a beautiful setting. During the gentle hike up Manyo no Michi there was not a single other hiker! I really immersed myself in the sounds of the forest, and listened to the guide explain all about the history of this beautiful place. My highlights were visiting and learning about the Takataki Waterfall. On the hike there was even an unexpected encounter with an Anaguma or the Japanese Badger! Cresting over the mountain I also got a glimpse of the impressive Kinpusenji Temple in the distance. I got to experience the most delicious lunch at a local restaurant in the centre of town, it was mouthwateringly good!! After lunch I was fascinated hearing about the Shugendo religion and other local stories from the guide. Visiting Kinpusenji Temple was one of the highlights for me! It was interesting to see inside Zao-Do (main hall) and learn from the guide that the structural beams were not uniformly placed so as a way to reflect the forest and bring it inside the temple.
Thanks for joining our tour and the kind review! The badger deciding to greet us along the route was quite the fun surprise, wasn’t it? Nature is amazing! So happy to hear you had a good time.
