Yoshino

Top Things to do

• Yoshimizu Shrine

  4.0

  112 Reviews

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  This Shinto shrine is dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo, Kusunoki Masashige, and Soshin Hoin. Prior to the official separation of Buddhism and Shintoism in the country, the shrine was served as the quarters for the priests of the Kinpusen-ji Temple. In addition to having served as a hiding place for Emperor Go-Daigo when he secretly traveled to Yoshino, the temple is also famous as the place where Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who was being pursued by Minamoto no Yoritomo, escaped safely to together with Benkei and Shizuka Gozen, among others. Also a famous location for viewing the cherry blossoms, the temple displays various articles from the time when Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi spent several days here enjoying the cherry blossoms. In spring, all of Mt. Yoshino blooms with some 30 thousand cherry trees consisting of 200 different varieties.

• Tamaki-jinja Shrine

  4.5

  101 Reviews

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  Tamaki-jinja Shrine is a miraculous shrine near the top of the 1,076 meter Mt. Tamaki at the southern end of the Omine Mountains. Legend says that the shrine was built in 37 B.C. in the era of Emperor Sujin in order to guard against fire at the imperial castle and to ward off evil spirits. The shrine is on the World Heritage Omine Okugake-michi (paths) and has prospered as a spiritual retreat for Buddhist Shugendo followers from Kumano and Omine for a very long time. In the grounds of the shrine are gigantic cedar trees including some cedar trees said to be 3,000 years old, and in 2004 the temple was designated a World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

• Yoshino Mikumari-jinja Shrine

  4.0

  70 Reviews

  Nara Pref. Yoshinogunyoshinochou Yoshinoyama 1612

  One of the Four Great Mikumari Shrines of Yamato Province which watch over the Nara Basin from the east, west, north, and south, this Shinto shrine worships the goddess Ameno-Mikumari, who governs water. In the Shoku Nihongi, it is recorded that prayers were made for rain at this shrine during the reign of Emperor Monmu. In the mid-Heian period, what is now pronounced “Mikumari” was pronounced “Mikomori,” which sounds like “Child Protector” in Japanese; because of this, the shrine continues to be visited to this day by numerous worshipers seeking to be blessed with children. The main shrine building was rebuilt in 1605 by Toyotomi Hideyori, successor to his father the great general Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This beautiful building strongly retains the distinctive characteristics of Momoyama period architecture. The main shrine building is also a designated Important Cultural Property.

• Mt. Ominesan Ryusenji Temple

  4.0

  50 Reviews

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  This is a temple located along the Dorogawa, Tenkawa Village on Prefectural Route 48. It was founded by Ennogyoujya as the main temple of the Daigo school of the Shingon sect approximately 1,300 years ago. It is a training ground for Japanese mountain asceticism-shamanism. The water from the spring water lake flowing from the Dragons Mouth in the precinct is the first ascetic training place of the Omine Mountain, where austerity practitioners gather to purify themselves.

• Menfudo Limestone Cave

  4.0

  50 Reviews

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  Menfudo Limestone cave is the largest limestone cave in the Kansai region. Inside the dome-shaped interior, visitors can see marvelous stalactites and stalagmites. The average temperature inside the cave is about 8°C year-round. A statue of the guardian deity Fudo has been set up in the deepest part of the cave, where no outside air penetrates.

• Hyotaro

  4.5

  30 Reviews

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  This is a Kakinoha-zushi specialty shop close to the copper torii gate of Kimpusen-ji Temple, a five-minute walk from the ropeway’s Yoshinoyama Station. Kakinoha-zushi is said to be delicious the day after thanks to the mellow flavor and aroma of persimmon leaves, and makes for a popular souvenir.

• Yoshino-Jingu Shrine

  4.0

  34 Reviews

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  Yoshino-Jingu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located near Yoshino-Jingu Station on the Kintetsu Railway Yoshino Line. It was constructed in 1889 on the orders of the Meiji Emperor; the main deity enshrined here is Emperor Go-Daigo. The recently-constructed Honden (Main Hall) and Haiden (Hall of Worship) are oriented in a north-facing direction, towards the city of Kyoto, and built in the Sohinoki-zukuri style (a modern style of shrine construction, which uses only Japanese cypress wood); the Shrine precincts are renowned as a marvelous place for viewing cherry blossom in spring. The Autumn Festival which is held at the Yoshino-Jingu Shrine on September 27 every year includes a performance of the Urayasu-no-mai Dance dedicated to the gods, as well as dances accompanied by traditional folk songs, the reciting of poems for the entertainment of the gods, etc., making this a wonderful opportunity to experience aspects of traditional Japanese culture.

• Amanogawa Onsen Center

  4.0

  32 Reviews

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  A great deal of attention was paid to the wood used to build this hot spring spa, including Japanese umbrella pine, Yoshino cedar, cypress, pine, and maple. Its odorless, colorless, and transparent waters have a slightly salty taste and a high content of minerals that give you soft and smooth skin. The spa, which is popular for its secluded hot spring atmosphere, also has outdoor baths and rest areas. Its line of cute original merchandise is also popular.

• Chikurin-in Temple

  4.5

  27 Reviews

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  Originally founded by Prince Shotoku as the Chinzan-ji Temple and later dubbed the Josen-ji Temple by the great priest Kukai, this Buddhist temple was re-founded as the Chikurin-in Temple in 1385. The Gumpoen garden, considered one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, stretches out on the temple’s 33 thousand square meter grounds. The garden, a strolling garden with a central pond, is said to have been created by the great tea ceremony master Sen no Rikyu and renovated by the samurai Hosokawa Fujitaka. The garden is also famous for its cherry and camellia blossoms, which the great samurai leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself came to see and enjoy. The Chikurin-in Gumpoen Ryokan, a traditional temple inn located on the grounds, is 1,300 years old, and is said to have even been used by yamabushi, ascetic mountain hermits said to have supernatural powers. This popular inn still sees an unending stream of guests today.