日本語Yamanobe drive⇨Silver grass viewing⇨Hot springs!!
Popular attractions in Nara are generally temples, shrines, and deer in Nara park. But there are also nice attractions out in the suburbs. This is the plan I made. You need a car, and it is a day trip in the suburbs.
Persimmon Leaf Sushi
Nara’s local specialty sushi. It’s called “Kakinoha Sushi“. Salted mackerel and salmon are the topping. Nara is surrounded by mountains, so they had no ways to get fresh fish in old days. So fish were salted for preservation. And then they were made into sushi, because vinegar also helps to preserve food from decay. They are also wrapped with a persimmon leaf as it has excellent antibacterial action.
10 pieces may not be enough!! What makes this sushi special is that it lasts 3 days, and the taste changes as the day passes.
Day 1: Enjoy the salty topping.
Day 2: Vinegar and salt are blended and it tastes milder.
Day 3: Enjoy the harmony of rice and fish.
For your reference: https://www.kakinohasushi.net/
Somen noodles in Miwa area
Somen are a kind of yummy noodles in Japan . They’re super thin as thread, and are made of wheat flour. We enjoyed them both in cold and hot styles. We eat cold Somen a lot especially in the summer because their smooth texture improves appetite while we are exhausted from the hot and humid summer in Japan. In the winter we enjoy hot Somen. The hot style Somen is called “Nyumen”.
Noodled are soaked in simple fish-based soup and the gentle texture of noodles is just nice and pleasing.
While there are many good Ramen or soba restaurants, there are few somen restaurants. Miwa area is the origin of somen and there are some restaurants dedicated to somen.
If you want to enjoy somen, Yamamoto is the choice. I chose Nyumen. It comes with some persimmon leaf sushi and some Japanese sweet. The flavor of the soup is awesome!! Noddles are really thin but they’re not too soft but nicely chewy.
Somen can be a great souvenir. Yamamoto has a great variety of souvenirs!!
Miwa Somen Yamamoto Website：https://www.miwayama.co.jp/
Sounds of nature in the tranquil art park
It’s two hours of the hike from the nearest station, (but I drove up there! haha) Peace and tranquility prevail this park💕 It’s located in the village among mountains, and all of a sudden, the spark appears in the middle of rice paddies.
The project of this art forest was commenced by a Japanese sculptor who was born in this village but he died in the middle of the project and his friend, Dani Karavan (an Israeli artist) took over his will and completed the project.
This beautifully maintained park has huge artworks and the landscape is designed completely to the harmony of art and nature.
Murou Art Forest Website (Japanese only)：http://www.city.uda.nara.jp/sanzyoukouen/index.html
See also（English): http://www.city.uda.nara.jp/sanzyoukouen/index.html
Hiking in Soni highland
Japanese silver grass grow all over this highland and they make this beautiful landscape in October to November. If you go there, choose a sunny day ☀️ The sunlight shines on the grass and it’s beautiful 😍! In the evening, there will be a lantern event. Around the pond there will be lanterns so you can enjoy the silver grass in the evening.
Soni Village Website: https://sonimura.com/sightseeing/1/
Hot springs ~Okamenoyu~
Did I forget to rinse my body? That’s what I first thought after I jumped into the tub. My skin felt kind of soapy to the touch. Well, the reason is the nature of the hot springs here at Okamenoyu. It’s alkaline with pH scale of around 8.5. The water gets more soapy as its pH level increases (to 10 or 11). This type of hot springs are said to be good for skin as it promotes skin metabolism.
Do I look more beautiful than usual???
After taking a hot spring bath, I went home!!!
It was a fun long day trip:)
Okamenoyu hot springs website: http://www.soni-kogen.com/okame.html
