When I travel, I like to do a fair bit of research about the place I am going - what to do, what to see and what to eat. Most of the time, you can get sufficient information from just skimming through the initial hits on your Google search. However, ever since spending some time living in a foreign country and interacting with the locals, I came to realise that there is so much incredible information that you probably would not come across on your research. Sometimes, the locals' advice and/or locally-sourced information prove to be the most helpful information you can get for a trip within said country.
There has been countless of times where I have discovered amazing places around Osaka, and throughout Japan, just based off the recommendations of the locals I interact with, i.e. my students and coworkers. While the information you see on the Internet is helpful in covering the bases for any trip, nothing excites me more when I find out that hidden gem that not many people know and you do not have to compete with the crowd for a decent photo or just to savour in the moment peacefully.
Hence, I thought I should do my part and pay the good deed forward and share some of the unexpected places that I visited recently in Nara Prefecture. Nara Prefecture is most commonly known for the wild deers that roam Nara park as well as the historical temples and shrines that house giant Buddha statues. However, Nara has so much more to offer as the prefecture is blessed with sprawling mountains and countryside which makes for a great respite from the busy Osaka city. So read on to find out some of the places that a friend and I drove to around Nara Prefecture!
Kashihara Insectarium (Kashihara)
The first stop was the Kashihara Insectarium. Personally, I am never a huge fan of bugs, and will never be, but I have never been to an insect museum, so why not try one out at least once. They are behind glass cases anyway, or unfortunately dead in displays. On top of that, there is a massive butterfly conservatory which sounds pretty cool. When we arrived there, my friend and I were the only people there. It costs only 520 Yen per adult for admission and the museum was well maintained. On-site parking is free.
Although I went in without much expectation, the museum was surprisingly interesting. They have rows of displays of different butterflies and beetles that are iridescent, all shapes and sizes, and are honestly quite fascinating. Not only that, they also have live displays of beetles, bees, stick insects and other insects I did not know even existed. The worst, though, are the live displays of these terrifyingly gigantic cockroaches. It definitely sent chills down my spine. However, the highlight of the day was the butterfly conservatory. It is this sprawling, two-story glass dome made to resemble butterfly wings and it was filled with all kinds of flowers and tropical plants. The moment you step in, you are greeted by butterflies fluttering all over the place. There are different kinds of butterflies present in the conservatory. Everywhere you turn, you are greeted by a new sight.
I would definitely say it is worth checking the insectarium just for the butterflies. It would definitely be a hit with the children and after the museum, you can head out by the museum where there is a park and playground to have a nice afternoon picnic. Or you could visit other sightseeing spots in the area such as the Kashihara Jingu Shrine or take a stroll through Imaicho town, a traditional merchant town with Edo architecture.
Kashihara is accessible via Kintetsu-Kashihara, Kintetsu-Yoshino or Kintetsu-Minamiosaka line, or best is to drive for this itinerary as some of these places are harder to reach by public transportation.
Cafe Wawa (Tenri)
After our visit to my first ever insectarium, we headed to our next location for lunch. The drive there involved going through the suburban area, where life seemed to move slower, and eventually we were driving uphill into the mountains. The next thing I knew, we were going through narrow lanes and farmland until we ended up on the edge of a mikan orchard (mikan is a sort of mandarin). You could see the tiny mikan oranges budding on the rows of trees which would be ready to harvest in late autumn/early winter.
Cafe Wawa is this rustic looking wooden cottage that you just would not expect to be there near the base of a mountain because there is not exactly much going on around it except for farmland. However, I guess that is the charm of it. It makes for a perfect spot to chill, sip on a freshly-squeezed juice or coffee with the only noise in the background being the swallows that swoop in and out of the cafe.
The cafe serves a decent variety of food such as pasta, pizzas, desserts and seasonal specialties that are reasonably priced. Do not worry, they have an English menu you can request. The staff were friendly and even offered recommendations for our drinks to compliment our food. Besides that, I believe when it is mikan orange season, you could go fruit-picking in the orchard next to it.
Getting to Cafe Wawa may be a little challenging. It is best to drive there as there is no public transport nearby. The nearest train station is Tenri Station that is served by the Kintetsu-Tenri Line and Sakurai Line. From the train station, you may get a taxi there.
Yamatokoriyama
On our next, and final, pit stop of our drive through Nara prefecture, was Yamatokoriyama. It is a town famously associated with goldfish as it is a historic town that has been known for goldfish and carp cultivation for centuries. You can see that the town has fully embraced this association as there are all kinds of goldfish emblems all over town and most businesses keep goldfish in their establishments, making it quite the delightful sight. Beside the goldfish mania, Yamatokoriyama has several sights to offer which are all within walking distance to each other.
The first place we visited was Kochikuya. It is a famous souvenir shop famous for... You guessed it, goldfish. It has all kinds of goldfish related memorabilia, from paper lanterns, trinkets, coin purses and even live goldfish you could bring back home. There are even rows of autographs from famous people that have visited plastered across a huge wall. So, it would definitely be worth a visit to get a cute token to remember the quirky town.
After that, we strolled through the merchant town, scattered with traditional shophouses and antique-looking street lamps lining the streets. We then stopped by K Coffee, a coffee shop that was repurposed out of an old gas station, giving it a truly unconventional but industrial look. It serves great coffee, that is made by the owner himself and even has a vending machine selling roasted coffee beans and other coffee paraphernalia that, of course, have a goldfish motif on its packaging, nothing less. And did I mention they have a massive fish tank of goldfish too? Told ya, the whole town is obsessed with goldfish.
Our last stop was the Koriyama Castle Ruins. The castle was actually destroyed in the Meiji era but the surrounding area and protective walls are still standing. You can walk around the lush greenery of the vicinity and awe at the grandeur at some of the trenches and castle walls that are quite impressive. During cherry blossom season, Koriyama Castle is a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing and it holds a spring festival every year around late March to early April.
The sightseeing spots in Yamatokoriyama are easily accessible on foot from either JR Koriyama or Kintetsu Koriyama station. Hence, it makes for a great walking tour around the quaint town for a half-day or full-day trip.
Honourable Mentions
Besides those that have been mentioned, another place that I visited in Nara from a past trip was Dorogawa Onsen. It is a traditional hot spring town that is located in a valley, popular for their ryokan, traditional Japanese guesthouses. The streets are lined with traditional architecture and there are bridges that stretch across a river that runs through the middle of the town. On top of that, there is a cave, the Menfudo Limestone Cave, that has an interesting vertical monorail to go up to the cave or you can go on the several hiking trails through the mountains and a hanging bridge which is exceptionally beautiful in autumn and spring.
Another place that I hopefully get to go in spring is Yoshino. Mount Yoshino is covered with over 30,000 cherry blossom trees, which makes for a spectacular sight during cherry blossoms season. The mountain literally turns pink in spring. Hence, it is one of the most popular places to visit to view cherry blossoms in all its glory. However, prior to coming to Japan, websites tend to only mention places to view cherry blossoms in major cities, but places like Yoshino are leaps and bounds better. Therefore, it is definitely worth a check the next time if you happen to be in Japan in spring.
And those are some of the best suggestions I have received or discovered about places to visit in Nara Prefecture. There are so many more of such hidden gems tucked away in all corners of Japan and I’m looking forward to discovering more and sharing them with you in the future. Till then, enjoy the short vlog of my trip around Nara Prefecture’s lesser-known towns!