What you need to know before visiting mitarai valley

Have you ever been to Mitarai Valley?

Mitarai Valley is a very beautiful valley in Nara.

There is rich nature there, so when you travel around Nara, please do not miss this place!

What you need to know before visiting mitarai valley

1. Tenkawa Village

Mitarai Valley is located in Tenkawa Village in Nara Prefecture.

Tenkawa Village is located in the central part of the Kii Peninsula, surrounded by the Omine Mountains, with villages in the valley at elevations of 441 to 820 meters.

The temperature is 3 to 5 degrees lower than that of the Nara Basin, making it comfortable in summer, and in winter, visitors can enjoy the snowy landscape.

The area also has a deep history, with Shugendo (mountain asceticism) founded by Enno Gyoja, and a hidden history of deep involvement with the central figures in the government of the country, which has been handed down as local folklore.

Due to its geographical location, Tenkawa Village was not settled in ancient times.

According to tradition, the name “Amanogawa,” which derives from Takamenbaru, the birthplace of the gods, was given to a river valley in this area, and it is thought that this area was a kind of sanctuary where people were not allowed to settle down.

This led to the opening of a “training ground” for ascetic practitioners, and since Enno Gyoja founded Omine approximately 1,300 years ago, the mountain has flourished as a fundamental center for mountain asceticism.

History of Tenkawa Village

During the Heian period (794-1185), when the idea of the Latter Day Sabbath spread, many people, from the powerful to the common people, including Sugawara no Michizane and Fujiwara no Michinaga, made the Mitake pilgrimage with great enthusiasm.

The pilgrims were deeply connected with Kobo Daishi Kukai, and many historical sites and traditions related to Kukai remain along the route from Omine to Koyasan.

During the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Koyasan was an important base for the Southern Court and continued to support the Southern Court emperors, including Emperor Godaigo, and was granted a royal decree exempting it from the duties of the Emperor. The name “Tenkawa” is said to derive from the ancient name of Tenkawa-dai Benzaiten Shrine, “the palace of the heavenly river”.

It is said that the name “Amanogawa” was derived from the ancient name of the Shrine of Tenkawa-dai Benzaiten, which was enshrined at Yayama, one of the Omine Mountains, and that it became a sacred place with the rise of the shrine.

Tenkawa Village has been shaped by nature and history, and continues to carve out its own history even today.

2. Basic Information of Mitarai Valley

The Mitarai Valley is full of natural scenery with giant and oddly shaped stones, large and small waterfalls, and a wide variety of trees.

Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the scenery in each of the four seasons: spring with its dazzling fresh green foliage, summer with its river satsuki, autumn with its autumn leaves, said to be the best in the Kinki region, and winter with its landscapes.

Hiking along the trail is recommended. If you are driving, National Route 309 is very narrow and parking space is limited.

The 2.5-hour walking course along the river and through the forest will give you a refreshing workout.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes.

The trail is very crowded on weekends and holidays during the summer and foliage season, so we recommend that you visit on a weekday.

3. Enjoy Hiking in Mitarai Valley

There is the Mitarai Trail for hikers.

The Mitarai Valley, where clear water flows through waterfalls of various sizes and huge rocks, has an 8-kilometer-long promenade where visitors can enjoy the dynamic beauty of the valley.

The Mitarai Trail has a height difference of nearly 200m, so walkers heading for the Dorogawa area from the Tenkawa Village Information Center will be going up, while walkers heading for the Tenkawa Village Information Center from the Dorogawa Hot Springs Tourist Information Center will be going down.

Hiking Trail

7.4 km (about 2 hours) Go right at the intersection of Tenkawa Kawai, cross the suspension bridge on the left side, and turn left at the roadway.

Follow the trail up the river to the so-called “Mitaraigai” where you come to a roadway.

From the long suspension bridge, you can enjoy the large rocks, the crystal clear river, and the waterfalls up close.

After a steep climb, you will come to Hikari Falls. After a while, the trail joins the road at the Kannonmine trailhead.

After a gentle mountain forest course, you will reach the Dorogawa Hot Spring Center. (There is a clean and large public restroom.)

・Tenkawa Kawai → Mitarai Valley (approx. 2.8 km: 45 min.)　

・Mitarai Valley → Kannonmine Trailhead (approx. 1.8 km: 40 min.)

・Kannonmine trailhead → Dorogawa hot spring (about 2.8 km: 50 min.)

4. What to Wear

Mitara Valley is a cool and comfortable valley in summer, but the temperature drops considerably outside of summer, so much so that the autumn leaves come earlier than in other parts of the Kansai region around fall.

In winter, of course, but even in spring and fall, it can feel chilly than expected if you are wearing light clothing! We recommend that you bring a jacket that is easy to throw on! About shoes.

The trails in Mitarai Valley includes walking on wet rocks and crossing suspension bridges and railway bridges, so sandals and sneakers may be slippery in some places.

The trail is full of nature, so please wear shoes suitable for hiking, such as athletic shoes or trekking shoes if possible!

5. Transportation

Start your journey by bus from Shimoichiguchi Station on the Kintetsu Line!

First, we will head for Tenkawa Village.

It takes 1 hour and 10 minutes from Shimoichiguchi Station on the Kintetsu Line to the nearest bus stop, “Tenkawa Kawai”.

The bus departs and arrives once an hour, so be sure to pay attention to the time both on the way there and on the way back.

By the way, if you are visiting by train and bus, you can save money by using the Dorogawa “Hot Spring and Mitarai Valley Walking Ticket” issued by Kintetsu.