Private Guided Half-Day Walking Tour in Yoshinoyama

Yoshinoyama is an UNESCO World Heritage designated mountain temple district located in the town of Yoshino, centered around the 1,300-year-old Kinpusen-ji Temple complex. From its streets and trails one can take in stunning views over the surrounding landscape that change with the seasons, including thousands of sacred cherry blossoms in the spring and the blazing colors of fall. The tour is based around walking through this district with a guide and visiting a collection of amazing sightseeing spots that can be found here. Beyond historical and natural sights, there are also many traditional shops, restaurants, and ryokan inns that line the main street of the district. Your expert local guide will introduce you to the various local specialty foods, including persimmon leaf-wrapped sushi and kuzu (arrowhead root) sweets. ※The 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. tours do not include a lunch break.

Kane no Torii Gate (1348 CE) This 7.6 meter-high bronze gate is one of four torii gates that Shugendo practitioners have traditionally passed through on the way to the peak of Mt. Omine, roughly 24 kilometers south of Yoshinoyama. Going through the gate represents an important step on the path from the world of the profane into the sacred mountain realm of the gods and ascetic practice.

Kinpusen-ji Temple (Zao-do Hall). This temple is believed to have been founded around 1,300 years ago by the the mountain ascetic En no Gyoja. It's current main hall (Zao-do Hall) was built in 1592 and is said to be the 2nd largest wooden temple structure in Japan, impressively built right atop the mountain ridgeline using giant trees from the surrounding forest for pillars. Kinpusen-ji is an important base for the indigenous religion of Shugendo (mountain asceticism) and venerates the deity Zao-gongen, whose sacred symbol is the cherry blossom. The tour will take guests into Zao-do Hall to learn more about the history of Shugendo and what it can tell us about the wider culture of Japan.

Walk through the 3rd highest sacred sakura tree grove along a mountain trail with beautiful views over the surrounding landscape. This section offers different natural beauty depending on the season, including cherry blossoms which fall like snow in the spring, and fiery autumn colors in the colder months.