NISHI-AWA, MT. TSURUGI AND THE YOSHINO RIVER TOURISM ZONE

A thousand years, a hidden hamlet ～ Going deep into the valley. Going back in time ～

Did the towering mountains close shut in ancient times? Life here remains unchanged, as does the warmth of the inhabitants in the unspoiled town of Nishi-Awa.
As soon as you arrive you can sense that this is an unexplored area. It's almost as if the interior is hiding in among the impenetrable nature of the interlocking mountains. Dwellings are dotted here and there as if clinging to the mountainsides, agricultural land has been teased out of the steep slopes and lots of hamlets remain on the heights. Scenery like this is not seen in any other part of the country.
The front of dwellings were used like public roads. In such isolated areas limited resources were shared, and bonds between fellow residents were strong. The culture of helping and protecting each other is still very much alive. From the Heian period onwards the local inhabitants had a tendency to be sociable and offer a warm welcome to visitors, even without knowing them. This culture of taking in strangers and making them feel at home still remains today.
The unique cultural landscape of highland slope settlements, and the lives of the people there, was highlighted by Japanologist Alex Kerr who described it as a ‘paradise-like different world’ and this brought many Western visitors to the area from all parts of the globe.