PATH OF THE SUN AND OLD PILGRIMAGE ROAD https://enntourism.com facebook.com/enntourism twitter.com/enntourism instagram.com/enntourism East Nara Nabari Tourism Marketing Nabari City Hall 4th oor, 1-1 Konodai, Nabari-shi, Mie-ken 518-0492 Japan [email protected] +81-595-41-1057 Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM / Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed EAST NARA & NABARI, JAPAN OFF-THE-BEATEN TRACK WITH HIDDEN HISTORIES East Nara and Nabari is a region where two spiritual and religious paths coincide with each other. The “Path of the Sun” is an area which stretches from Nara in the west to Ise in the east at latitude 34°32’ north. Along the “Path of the Sun”, a major pilgrimage road runs. It is called“Ise-Honkaido”, which leads to Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred place in the Shinto religion and the most important religious site in Japan. Many historically important temples and shrines are also scattered on “Path of the Sun”. They were designed taking direction into consideration, implying that the direction was regarded as a sacred path of sun worship. On the Ise-Honkaido [MAP-4] vernal and autumnal equinox days, the Morokino, Uda City, Nara Prefecture sun rises and sets exactly at this latitude, indicating its great signicance to ancient people. Five-storied Pagoda at Muro-ji Temple [MAP-2] The pagoda, built approximately 1,000 years ago, is known as the smallest outdoor ve-storied pagoda in Japan. It is designated a National Treasure. Muro-ji Temple [MAP-2] Located at Muro Mountain, Muro-ji is an isolated mountain temple, which has been an object of worship since the 8th century. Mitsue Shrine [MAP-6] There is a legend that Princess Yamatohime left her cane at this shrine on her way to Ise. The legendary cane is still enshrined today. PATH OF THE SUN ISE-HONKAIDO EAST NARA A SPIRITUAL RAY LINE RUNNING ACROSS EAST NARA NABARI NABARI A PILGRIMAGE ROAD FROM YAMATO TO ISE A ray line extends from west to east at latitude 34°32’ north, with the The Ise-Honkaido is one of the oldest and the steepest pilgrimage holy Mt. Miwa as the starting point. Many temples, shrines and 34°32’ roads that connect Yamato, part of Nara Prefecture, and Ise. It is For Ise landmarks are situated on the line such as Muro-ji Temple and Mount noted in the oldest ocial record of Japanese history “Nihon Shoki”, Ise-Honkaido Kuroso, as well as Hasedera Temple, one of the most famous temples a legendary princess Yamatohime, traveled along this path to seek in Nara City. Muro-ji is one of the best-known destinations in East Nara Nabari area. It is located in the the most appropriate place to permanently enshrine deep mountains and known as “Nyonin Koya” or “Women’s Koya”—it welcomed female worshipers, in Amaterasu-omikami, the goddess of the sun and the universal patron contrast to other Koyasan where only men were admitted for Buddhist training. deity to Japanese people. Since Amaterasu-omikami was enshrined in Ise, scores of the devout have taken this path to visit Ise Shrine. Buddha statues at Muro-ji Temple [MAP-2] Mount Kuroso [MAP-3] Soni Highland [MAP-3] Aburaya [MAP-1] Shisha Shrine [MAP-5] Himeshi Myojin Shrine [MAP-7] This temple has many Buddha statues. Mt. Kuroso rises to 1,037 meters and is des- A plateau called Soni Highland is spread out Located at the diverging point of two Pilgrims stopped by this shrine to pray for A deity of marriage and smooth childbirth is Some of them were made back in the 8th ignated as one of “Japan’ s 300 Famous over almost 40 hectares at the foot of Mt. pilgrimage roads—“Ise-Honkaido” and safety on their way to Ise in the Edo Period. enshrined. Legend has it that Princess Yam- century. Most of them are designated as Mountains”. The Kuroso Daigongen Shrine Kuroso. It is one of the most popular hiking “Hase-Kaido”—this 300-year-old historic It is also believed Princess Yamatohime atohime prayed to a female buttock-shaped national treasures or important cultural is on the mountainside. spots in Kansai, and also attracts many inn remains exactly as it used to be in the puried her hands using the well here when rock to cure a female disorder here. properties. photographers. Edo period. she traveled to Ise. Hyogo Kyoto Shiga Aichi Shizuoka FOUR SEASONS IN EAST NARA NABARI Chubu Centrair International Airport Osaka Kansai Mie International THE EAST NARA NABARI Airport The East Nara Nabari area is located in the east end of Nara Kansai region, and includes two cities and 4 villages; Nabari City in Mie Prefecture, Uda City, Soni Village, Wakayama Mitsue Village, Yamazoe Village, and Higashiyoshino Village in Nara Prefecture. Most destinations in the area are 1 to 1.5-hour drive from Osaka, Kyoto or Nara City, and a 2-hour drive from Nagoya City. 25 Yamazoe IC Nara City 368 Mt. Kono Kintetsu Railway To Tsu City 165 165 Konoguchi IC Japan National Route Meihan National Highway Ise-Honkaido NabariNabari LOCAL CUISINE Hari IC Akameguchi Matsubara IC Akame 48 Waterfalls Osaka 368 Muroguchi-Ono Ono-ji Temple 165 Muro-ji Temple Soni Highland AburayaAburaya 2 1 Haibara Mt. Kuroso Butsuryu-ji Temple 3 Sumisaka Himeshi Myojin Shrine 7 To Ise 370 MorokinoMorokino 166 Kasuga Anno-ji 4 Shrine Temple Izumisano IC 6 369 5 Kansai International 166 Mitsue Airport Shisha HOTELS & INNS Shrine Shrine 166 Mt. Miune Mt. Takami To Yoshino To Matsusaka City Please access the following URL or scan the QR code to check the accommodation list. https://enntourism.com/accommodations.