A Magical Evening at the Soni Highlands
Arrival at the Plateau I found myself standing at the heart of the Soni Highlands, a sprawling plateau nestled in…
Features & Blog
Sweet Potato Digging
After finishing our rice harvesting experience in the morning and early afternoon, we headed to a sweet potato field, also…
A Waterfall Meditation Journey
Ever since I had first heard that waterfall meditation was offered at Akame 48 waterfalls, I was simply bursting to…
After Dark in East Nara Nabari 2025
Here are nighttime events in East Nara Nabari. Enjoy another natural beauty that is different from the daytime. Soni Highland…
Uncovering Rural Japan: Onsen, Nature, and Local Flavors!
Cruising Through the Countryside with My Big Brother When my brother first told me he wanted to come and visit…
Hiking Mt. Kabuto & Mt. Yoroi – The Icons of Soni Village
Nice to meet you all! My name is Nakano, and I work for Soninowa Glocal. Last year, I made a…
Nabari Autumn Festival Experience – A Traditional Celebration of Bonfires and Mikoshi
Across the weekend of the 26th and 27th of October, Nabari (Mie Prefecture) held its autumn festival, celebrating the year’s…
All-You-Can-Eat Strawberry Picking Adventure
In East Nara Nabari, there are several spots where you can enjoy fruit picking, including grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. Here,…
Halal Wagyu & Scenic Hike: The Best of Nabari in One Trip
As the crisp December air rolled through the windows, Akiko-san and I set off from Tsu City, Mie Prefecture for…
Experience Traditional Japanese New Year Preparations at a Farmhouse
Through Farming Experiences in Nabari, you can enjoy a variety of seasonal programs. In this article, we introduce one available…
Bento Making with Nabari’s Special Ingredients & Waterfall Hike
Nabari, located in the western part of Mie Prefecture, is a city rich in nature, despite being just an hour…
Organic Rice Harvesting
Through Farming Experiences in Nabari, you can enjoy a variety of seasonal activities. In this article, we introduce a program…
Onsen Hot Spring in East Nara Nabari
Take a break from daily life and relax in an onsen or hot spring surrounded by nature. This page introduces…
Rime Ice Buses to Mt. Miune & Mt. Takami 2025
On weekends and national holidays during the snow trekking season, shuttle buses called “Rime Ice bus” run between Haibara Station…
Behind the Studio Doors – A Visit to the Higashiyoshino Open Atelier
Higashiyoshino Village, located at the southernmost tip of the East Nara Nabari area, is about a 1.5–2 hour drive from…
Rediscovering the History and Traditional Art of Nara Inden
Unique Japanese Crafts and Gifts from East Nara Nabari As a CIR (Coordinator for International Relations) my main duty is…
Discover East Nara Nabari with the Kintetsu Railway Pass
Welcome to East Nara Nabari, a region rich in cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re exploring ancient…
Bento & Forest Life Experience
As a CIR (Coordinator for International Relations), I was invited to a trial tour in Higashiyoshino, which was such a…
Japanese School Life Experience in Mitsue
On this day, I participated in a trial tour to Mitsue Village, Nara, to experience Japanese elementary school life. Mitsue…
Vegan Hot Spring Nature Retreat at Akame 48 Waterfalls
It is November and already dark at 6:30 PM. We are in a canyon, searching under boulders in a river…
A Walking Tour of Mitsue’s Ise Honkaido
The famous Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu) , located in Mie Prefecture, is home to the primary pilgrimage site for…
The Zokin Dash: Mitsue’s Rousing Tradition
In the wooded village of Mitsue, a rousing tradition called the ‘Zokin Dash!’ takes place on Sports Day, a Japanese…
All You Can Eat Grapes in Nabari
I recently learned that grape picking is the seasonal thing to do during summer in Japan; and Nabari was the…
Top River Spots for Summer Fun
If you’re looking to escape the city heat, why not consider a relaxing river trip in East Nara Nabari, a…
3 Best Trekking Places in East Nara Nabari
As you know, the area around East Nara Nabari is rich in nature and surrounded by mountains. Waterfalls and hiking…
Tasting Local Sake from East Nara Nabari
Local cuisine and sake are one of the pleasures of traveling. I like beer and wine, but sake tastes best…
Kinoko no Yakata, a Mushroom Restaurant in Nara
This restaurant has been closed. For the third time, I finally made it to Kinoko no Yakata. Kinoko no Yakata,…
Muro Dam, Nabari River, and Uda River Infrastructure Tourism Course Test Ride
Aiming for Effective Utilization of Rich Natural Scenery and Tourism Resources What is infrastructure tourism? In recent years, “infrastructure tourism,”…
Bamboo Thinning for a Sustainable Community
For the past several years, Nabari City in Mie Prefecture has been using local bamboo to enliven the town with…
Pottery Class in Mitsue, Nara
I have been hooked on handcrafting in East Nara Nabari for the past year or two. It may be because…
Kintsugi Experience in Soni Village, the Birthplace of Urushi Lacquering
Have you ever heard of kintsugi? It is also called kintsukuroi. If this doesn't ring a bell, have you ever…
Bamboo Lantern Festival and illumination at Akame 48 Waterfalls
Saturday, December 3, 2022, clear skies We went to Akame 48 Waterfalls, where all kinds of exciting things awaited us,…
Takigyo Meditation at Seiyo-ji
It has been six months since I moved to Uda City, Nara Prefecture. The busy summer days are over, and…
Zip-line Adventures at Boken-no-mori Yamazoe
Although the summer heat is still lingering, the mornings and evenings have become much cooler and more comfortable. Today, my…
7 Unique Waterfalls in East Nara Nabari
Forget the heat and refresh yourself. Surrounded by mountains with clear mountain streams, the East Nara Nabari has beautiful waterfall…
Exploring Old Town Nabari on a Rental Bike
The old town district in Nabari City used to be a castle town of its Jinya (administrative office) and a…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Kaochidani Scenic Route
Kansai’s Favorite Getaway, Soni Soni Village is a destination for weekenders from Nara City and Osaka. It’s time the Japanese…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Nunome Lake Experience Route
Take Me There, Country Roads Almost heaven, west of Mie Blue-green mountains, Nunome River Life is old there, older than…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Yamato-hime Pilgrimage Route
Experiencing the Rural-Urban Divide I was really excited to finally visit Mitsue area. My favorite Japanese movie is comedy/drama, Wood…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Crystal Stream Route
Destined for Higashiyoshino, a Village of Clear Streams Saturday, December 4th, 9 AM. It’s a few degrees above freezing. I…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Rides: Casual Cycling Introduction
Remember to let Nabari into your heart (and under your skin) Then you can start to make it Better better…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Mahoroba Sakura Route
Shrines, Historic Streetscape, and Cherry Trees Mahoroba Sakura Route in Uda City, Nara, takes you to two very special shrines,…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Ninja Route
Exploring Ninja Haunts My son, 12, pulls himself across the river along a suspended line, standing on floating tires. Most…
Craving for Thai Food? Foodie workshop in Soni
Mmm... image the smell and taste of... Massaman curry.... Khao Man Gai... Fried spring roll.. What other Thai cuisines can…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Murou—Yoshino—Uda-Matsuyama
World Heritage Ride in Late Autumn We took on the challenge of a long ride of over 100km starting from…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Yagyu—Nunome Dam—Mt. Kono
A Fat-burning, Hill-slaying Ride Slopes with an incline of over 20% and “upper rank” hills hitting one after another. Our…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Kaochidani—Soni Highland—Mitsue
Soni Climb — Father-Son Ride on Rented Bikes Using the bikes rented from Cycle Pro Shop RPM located by Lake…
East Nara Nabari Yamanami Ride: Kaochidani—Murou—Akame 48 Falls
A Ride Through Autumn Foliage Muro-Akame-Aoyama Quasi-National Park, which straddles the border between Nara and Mie prefectures, is packed with…
Bamboo Lanterns Connecting Our Hearts
Two Stories of Community Development Through Bamboo Lanterns One early morning in late autumn, I took the Kintetsu Urban Liner…
Don’t miss the mystical illumination at Akame 48 Waterfalls
Akame 48 Waterfalls, a scenic spot in Nabari City, Mie Prefecture, is a valley with beautiful clear streams where you…
Best Autumn Foliage Spots
Blessed with rich nature, East Nara Nabari attracts the most visitors in autumn, the season you can enjoy beautiful colored…
Scarecrow Festival in Mitsue
One day at the end of summer, the weather was so lovely that I couldn’t resist hopping on a car.…
Tea Making was Hard but Fun!
Hello everyone! How are you? This is Mineko. I’ve been spending every day this summer in good health, with no…
Waterfall Meditation at Ninja Training Ground
East Nara Nabari is located within Muro Akame Aoyama Quasi-National Park and has many beautiful waterfalls. Today, I would like to…
Cross-border trekking in East Nara Nabari: Day 2
Following Day 1, I’m going to write about Day 2 of our cross-border trek between Nara and Mie prefectures. First,…
Cross-border trekking in East Nara Nabari: Day 1
In East Nara Nabari, there are many mountain climbing and hiking spots that especially beginner or intermediate level hikers can…
Enjoying Installation Art in Murou, Nara
It's that time of year when the trees are getting greener and greener, and when you're driving along, you can’t…
Baby Lamb Debut Party at Mee Mee Farm
Hi, it’s Mineko! How is everyone? The cold winter has finally passed, and a warm spring is just around the…
Stay tuned for cycling tours in East Nara Nabari!
My name is May, and I am a promoter of East Nara Nabari (ENN). In our area, we have a…
Weekend Warriors at Taisenkaku Inn
You have not been to Japan until you stay in a traditional Japanese inn, ryokan. We had to perform the…
Snow Mountain Hike in Beginner-friendly Mt. Miune
With the new year a few weeks old by now and the days still cold, how are you all doing?…
A visit to Akame 48 Waterfalls Bamboo Lantern Illumination 2020
“What a serene environment lightened up by the bright yellow light creating a daylight environment up the hills from a…
Marché Day in Soni
Whenever I come to East Nara & Nabari, I realize how fresh the air is and how clean the water…
Mt. Kono, A Planetarium on Earth—Yamazoe, Nara
Is Mt. Kono a Planetarium on Earth Created by Ancient People? Mt. Kono, located within the Nara Prefectural Tsukigase-Konoyama Natural…
Sneak Preview: Bamboo Lantern Illumination at Akame 48 Waterfalls
On a refreshing sunny day in early autumn, I visited Akame 48 Waterfalls (Nabari, Mie Pref.)! I’ve visited the place…
A Village Where Creators Gather – Higashiyoshino
Nature, pottery, and international exchange One day in September, in the last days of summer, I drove to Higashiyoshino Village…
Crafting Bamboo Lanterns for the Waterfall Illumination
Hi, it’s Mineko! It’s been quite a while since I updated this blog. How is everyone doing? It was extremely…
Late Summer Blueberry Picking Is Just Like a Treasure Hunt!
Today I would like to share with you “blueberry picking,” a fun summer activity you can enjoy in Uda City.…
A workcation at Akame 48 Waterfalls Campground
A workcation… while listening to the sounds of water Recently, the concept of “workcation” has become popular (for those unfamiliar…
Campgrounds in East Nara & Nabari
Surrounded by rustic nature and clear streams, the East Nara Nabari is one of the best areas for camping in…
8 Best Firefly Viewing Spots
In East Nara Nabari, we start to see fireflies or hotaru near clear meadows and streams in early summer. Although you encounter…
A Poolful of Giant Salamanders
Habitats of Giant Salamanders Do you know what the largest amphibian is? Giant salamanders! And among the giant salamander family,…
Staying Overnight at an Old Schoolhouse
‘Hirara’ Now Offers an Overnight Stay Package World Maple Park ‘Hirara’ is a unique facility that used to be an…
Murou Dam & Neighboring Spiritual Sites
Dam Tour in East Nara Nabari Did you know that there are some dams in ENN (East Nara Nabari) area?…
Himeshi Myojin, a Mysterious Hidden Sanctuary in East Nara
Are you a Nara person or a Kyoto person? I know Kyoto is one of the most popular travel destinations…
3 wagashi snacks and interesting stories behind them
Do you have a sweet tooth? I do. My coworkers sometimes give me wagashi, or Japanese sweets at the office.…
3 Hidden Spots That Kids Can Enjoy
Hi, my name is Mineko, a local from the ENN area. I’m going to write here from time to time…
Beautiful World of Rime Ice
Having fun climbing the snowy Matterhorn of Kansai, “Mt. Takami”! Long time no see, it’s me, Meg. What have you…
Best time to Visit East Nara & Nabari
Like other places in Japan, the East Nara Nabari area has beautiful four seasons. You can visit here basically any…
A day in Mitsue Village, Nara
On a sunny day in December, I visited Mitsue Village. While I have traveled to many places in Japan, I…
Dessert Tour in Uda-Matsuyama
Enjoy Sweets Hopping in the Historic Uda-Matsuyama Hi there! It seems that autumn is completely here in Japan! Speaking of…
Bamboo Lantern Illumination at Akame 48 Waterfalls
This post is about the event in 2019 Autumn feels at Akame Falls At Akame 48 Waterfalls, some of the…
Soni Highland 1-day Trekking and Fantastic Sunset in Autumn
Soni Highland is famous for an incredible sunset landscape. It is because Japanese pampas grass, covering the highland and reflected…
Kayaking Excursion on the Shorenji Lake
3 guys went kayaking to the Shorenji Lake All set! Let’s go! This time, the Furumoto, Saba, Hidada group went…
Murou-ji Temple Travel Guide #2
Hello! My name is Miyako, and I was born and raised in Nara, Japan. In this travel journal, I will…
Murou-ji Temple Travel Guide #1
Access Info and Attractions on Approach Hello, my name is Miyako from Nara. The other day, I have been to…
Staying at Myojindaira in the summer in a tent, and a feast
Myoujindaira, a famous camping site with an elevation of 1300m Evening in summer. While listening to a chorus of cicadas,…
A captivating lizard’s tail garden situated in a remote forest
Hello, everyone. I am Megu, and I’ve come again along with the change in seasons. Every night, it is so…
The 1000 Weeping Cherry Trees of Takami no Sato
A Shower of Cherry Blossom Petals! It’s been a long time! This is Megu from ENN. The weather has really…
Unlimited train travel to ENN
The hay fever season is almost over, and we are having the best season for outdoor activities. The East Nara…
After Nabari Sakura Festival
Walking in a quiet park with falling petals of cherry blossoms On the next day of the 24th Nabari Sakura…
Kumihimo—Braided Cords
Learning the art of traditional Japanese braiding Have you ever heard of Kumihimo? If you saw the anime movie "Your…
Red Carpet of “Higanbana”, Still on the Way to Recovery
In an idyllic countryside of Uda City stands an ancient temple called Butsuryu-ji. For decades, this temple has been known…
Cool and Refreshing! Gorge Scrambling at Akame 48 Falls
I'm not an athletic type but I tried ‘sawanobori’ It's melting hot every day! It was so hot that I…
My Top 5 Places in Eastern Nara and Nabari
I have lived in Japan for almost one year and I love it here. The big cities are fun but…
Walk around town & chat with locals
One of the most exciting experiences while traveling is to chat with locals and get to know how they live…
The best short hike in Kansai
Planning a day trip from Osaka? How about a short hike? Now that cherry blossom season is almost over, it’s…
