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With sunlight on the horizon for resuming international travel in 2022, you might be on the lookout for a ‘quiet’ place to sneak in some much-needed R & R in your Japan itinerary. Hidden in the lush mountains in the countryside of Aichi Prefecture’s Shinshiro City, you can find your inner zen through meditation, nature walks and relaxing soaks in a historic onsen.
Starting the day with meditation at Horai-ji Temple, you will then decompress with a hike through the primeval forest on Mount Horai-ji. End the day with a night in a historic inn in Aichi’s tranquil onsen town, Yuya Onsen. These three locations are known to locals as places of spirituality, health, and healing, making this the perfect stay-over itinerary for a truly self-pampering journey.
Find your inner zen in the quiet of the temple grounds
Located in a mountainous area of unspoiled nature, Horai-ji Temple has long been known as a sacred place to the people of Aichi prefecture. Built in 703, the temple was believed to have curative powers for those who made the journey to offer their prayers. To this day, Horai-ji Temple remains an area of tranquil spiritualism hidden amongst the dense primeval forest of Mount Horai-ji. To reach the temple visitors must brave the 1,425 stone stairs up the mountain, and although a steep hike, the surrounding greenery will help you refresh yourself as you make your ascent. Once you have made it to the temple, it is time for you to catch your breath and begin your meditation. Enveloped in the quiet of the temple grounds, you can release the stress and worries that have latched on you.
Fresh air and unspoiled nature within the ancient forests
Beyond the temple, visitors will find hiking courses to explore the lush nature of the spiritual Mountain that stands 695-metres high dotted with rugged geological features and rocky cliffs. Mount Horai-ji itself is the remnants of a 15-million-year-old volcano, its long history alone setting the scene for a firsthand experience of the special bond between nature and religion in Japan. The mountain is home to many ancient cedar and cypress trees, which is the natural habitat of the rare Japanese scops owl. Here, the bird is considered sacred, its ‘hoot’ that sounds “Bu-po-so”, said to mean ‘Bu’ (Buddha), ‘Po’ (sutra), ‘So’ (priest), a fine match for the areas steepened spirituality.
Although Mount Horai-ji offers spectacular views throughout the year, it is particularly beautiful at the peak of Autumn (usually late November), when crimson leaves are at their richest colours.
Unwind in historic onsen town in the valleys of Aichi’s quiet farmlands
Secluded amongst the greenery below the towering Mount Horai-ji, Yuya Onsen is a quiet and historic hot springs town. Part of Oku-Mikawa, a place that has stayed true to its history as it continues to be home to the traditional farming communities – offering the perfect place for the tired traveller to wind down, relax and soak up the tranquillity. The legends say that the first onsen here was discovered by the same monk who was responsible for the creation of the Horai-ji Temple, and his many visits to the Onsen lead to the creation of the inns and bathhouses in the area.
There are many inns in the area to choose from, however one of the most memorable is Hazu Gassho. You can rest assured that your stay will be peaceful at this exclusive Ryokan as it only accommodates a maximum of five groups a day. The building was originally the home of the village headman dated back 150 years ago, and was relocated to the quiet banks of one of Yuya Onsen’s canyons. This inn offers two open-air medicinal baths, as well as outdoor baths for guests to relax in – the best way to ease your tired muscles after your busy day on Mount Horai-ji.
How to Get There: Both Mount Horai-Ji and Yuya Onsen are accessible from Aichi Prefecture’s shinkansen stop, Toyohashi Station, from where you will transfer to a local train. Mount Horai-ji and the temple can be reached by bus from Hon-Nagashino Station, a stop on the JR Iida Line from Toyohashi Station. If you are travelling directly to Yuya Onsen from the mountain, the quickest and most convenient way to get there is by taxi, where you will arrive in under 15 minutes.