"A hidden place in the sky" discovered! Foreign tourists rejoice at the miraculous sea of clouds in a village in Nara with no supermarkets or traffic lights .
[Hatori Shinichi Morning Show]
(December 3, 2024)
The sea of clouds in Nosegawa Village, Nara Prefecture, known as the "secret land in the sky." Located about six hours from Tokyo, this village has a population of just over 300 people, but is visited by many foreign tourists.
■The charm of Nosegawa Village, Nara, the "secret land in the sky"
Nosegawa Village is located in the southwest of Nara Prefecture, surrounded by the mountains of the Kii Mountains, which are over 1,000 meters above sea level. 97% of the village is forest, and the average elevation of the village is 700 meters.
It is a "secret land in the sky" that is about six hours away from Tokyo by bullet train, conventional train, and bus. There are only 327 residents. It is the village with the smallest population in Japan, excluding remote islands.
There is no train station, no supermarket, and not even a traffic light. When we asked the residents about the charm of Nosegawa Village, they answered, "Even if you say it's a nice place... I don't know if there was something there in the past," and "There's nothing attractive about it. I can say I'm not confident about it."
On the other hand, we also heard, "Recently, there are many places where you can see the sea of clouds over there, and many people come here early in the morning."
Nosegawa Village, where the sea of clouds is likely to occur all year round, is known to those in the know as a famous spot for sea of clouds. Moreover, there are seven viewing spots scattered throughout the village, making it a "village of the sea of clouds."
The sea of clouds looks different from place to place, and it is said to be a good omen that the shape of the clouds that meander through the mountain valleys looks like the legendary creature, the Azure Dragon, rising to the heavens.
From the top of the mountain, which is about 1,200 meters above sea level, you can enjoy the collaboration of the mountains that line the Kii Peninsula and the sea of clouds. If the conditions are right, you can witness a miraculous sight of the starry sky.
In addition, an amazingly clear stream flows right next to the village. The water is so clear that you can clearly see not only the swimming fish, but even their shadows reflected on the riverbed.
In addition, Tachisato Kojin, where Kobo Daishi trained, is one of the three great Kojin shrines in Japan, where the god of fire is enshrined. The unusual sight of a large cedar tree piercing the roof of the main hall and an endless row of white wooden torii gates attracts worshippers from all over the country.
■Foreigners heading for the Kumano Kodo "Kohechi"
The number of foreigners walking along this unexplored mountain path in the sky has increased dramatically in recent years. You can also see a woman walking alone in silence with a large backpack.
There are other foreigners to see.
British people
"I'm from England. I'm from near London."
"I'll walk from Koyasan to Kumano Hongu in about four days. I'll walk the Kohechi section of the Kumano Kodo."
Their purpose is to hike the Kumano Kodo, a registered World Heritage Site. Koyasan and the neighboring village of Nosegawa are crossed by a route called "Kohechi", which is about 70 kilometers long and connects Koyasan and Kumano Hongu in the shortest possible time.
This Kohechi route requires crossing three passes at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, and is the most rugged of the Kumano Kodo trails.
Chinese tourist: "I learned about Kohechi from friends and from Japanese websites."
The woman said she chose this route to coincide with the autumn leaves season.
Chinese tourist: "It's so beautiful. I hope my friends will come too."
The Polish and British couple started from Kumano Hongu four days ago. They plan to arrive at Koyasan in the evening of that day.
Polish tourist: "We wanted to walk a route that wasn't very crowded and wasn't very well-known. Nakahechi was also an option, but we chose this route because we wanted to walk through rural villages. We only met about five people a day, so it was very few and I was glad. The villagers were also very welcoming, and I think it's definitely worth coming."
■ "Sea of clouds spot" Spectators from all over the world
In the evening, foreigners arrive one after another at lodgings near the Kohechi route.
Family from France
"We're not going to walk the entire Kumano Kodo, but we're planning to walk about 10 kilometers. We wanted to discover Japan while traveling around the country."
Family from Singapore
"We've always wanted to visit Japan's hidden places as a family. We thought it was an interesting place."
Shizuko Nakasako (90) of Kawarabisou says that she used to be perplexed by foreigners, but now it's a completely normal sight.
Nakasako
"I'm glad they came from far away. Even from Estonia, we've already come five times (in groups) with 10 or 15 people. If you think of Germany, America, or England, they feel closer to us now."
Tourist from Osaka
"It's so beautiful. It's amazing. It's so relaxing."
The new attraction of the "hidden place in the sky" is the sea of clouds. Bathed in the morning sun, golden clouds cover the valley, and the mountain ridges rise up like islands. Many spectators gather at the sea of clouds spot from early in the morning to catch a glimpse of the spectacular view.
Tourist from Osaka
"I came here because you can see the beautiful sea of clouds all year round. (I left Osaka at 2 a.m.) I left at 2 a.m."
Tourist from
Kyoto
"Today is my third time here. The second time I came, the sea of clouds was quite solid. The shape of the clouds changes quite a bit, so I think it's interesting no matter how many times you come."
A tourist from Germany who was camping at the sea of clouds said, "I was very lucky and happy," and "I took 120 photos."
In order to welcome the spectators who come early in the morning, Inaka Shokudo Bessho started opening its restaurant at around 7 a.m. Inaka Shokudo Bessho, Bessho Shizuko (77)
"Have you seen the sea of clouds?"
Tourist from Kyoto
"I didn't see it today, but I'm on my way back."
Bessho
"There are a lot of people who see the sea of clouds, as expected."
Tourist from Kyoto
"I found it by chance while riding my bike. It's warm. It's so good. It's delicious."
Recently, overseas visitors have also started coming.
Bssho
"(Foreign tourists) stop by here and there. I make a notebook, so I tell them to write it down when they come to Nosegawa. I think they'll come often. I'm really grateful."
■Inn owner charmed by Nosegawa's sea of clouds
There is a woman who is so fascinated by the sea of clouds in Nosegawa that she runs an inn in a remote area.
Katsuyo Izumimoto (60), owner of "Unkai no Sato no Yado", fell in love at first sight with the sea of clouds in Nosegawa when she first saw it about 10 years ago. Six years ago, he opened the inn to make it a base for viewing the sea of clouds.
Izumimoto-san
"Isn't this amazing? This is my first time. I'm totally hooked."
Izumimoto-san's love for the sea of clouds on social media and photos of the sea of clouds in Nosegawa Village gradually spread.
In addition, the inn was listed on an English-language accommodation reservation site, and reservations began to come in from foreign tourists, despite the poor transportation access.
The whiteboard showing the reservation status is filled with a list of countries around the world.
Izumimoto-san
"Maybe about two Japanese people a month. About 80% of the guests are from overseas each year."
There are many reasons why foreigners stay at the inn.
Izumimoto-san
"Some people want to stay in a private home, some stay on their way to Mount Koya, Kumano, or Yoshino, and some are from overseas who want to see the sea of clouds."
Recently, he says, there has been an increase in guests from overseas who want to see the sea of clouds.
Izumimoto-san
"This kid is from Dubai (UAE). He traveled to Japan to see the sea of clouds. These kids also came to see the sea of clouds. They're from the Netherlands. They were really surprised. It really looks like the sea."
The couple who stayed at the hotel that day was a couple from the UK.
Couple from the UK
"We're going to see the sea of clouds in the valley tomorrow."
"(Q. Have you ever seen a sea of clouds?) I've never seen it in the UK."
It rained the day before, and the humidity was high, making it ideal for the sea of clouds to form. Our expectations are building.
Couple from the UK
"I've never seen anything like this before. I hope we can see it tomorrow."
"(Q. Will we be able to see the sea of clouds?) I don't know. It's a bit cloudy..."
We left the hotel early in the morning, just after 6am, and arrived at Tengugi Pass, the point where we could see the sea of clouds in about 10 minutes.
Izumimoto-san: "Oh, what a shame. I'm sorry nothing."
Perhaps the night wasn't cold enough, and the sea of clouds didn't appear at all.
A couple from England: "It's unfortunate, but you can't control the weather."
However, when we moved to another point, a magnificent view unfolded before our eyes. A ray of light appeared from a gap in the clouds, pouring down to the ground like a pillar. This phenomenon is commonly known as the "Angel's Ladder." The light stretched in a straight line from the sky and illuminated the mountainside, creating a divine scene.
Izumimoto-san: "Great! (Nature) shows us something, doesn't it?"
On another day, a couple from Germany who were on their honeymoon in Japan said they were going to see the sea of clouds to wrap up their three-day stay in Nosegawa Village. However, the air was dry the next morning, and we couldn't expect to see much of a sea of clouds.
A couple from Germany
"(Q. Is it okay if it's early in the morning?) It's early, but I've had coffee so I'm ready."
Izumimoto-san
"Let's go!"
When we arrived at the spot, a thin sea of clouds was covering the mountains in front and a thick sea of clouds was covering the mountains in the background, like a watercolor painting.
Her husband, Arne, who works as a photographer in Germany, was fired up as a photographer and his hand kept pressing the shutter.
Izumimoto-san
"You're a lucky couple."
"There it is, I'm glad. I'm relieved. (The sea of clouds) is really concentrated over there. It's thin in front. This sea of clouds is rare. It's a little different from usual. I've never seen it often. It's rare."
When the morning sun appeared from behind the mountain, the sea of clouds turned golden and became more divine. Arne put down his camera and gazed at the view.
A couple from Germany
"This place is really special"
"It's special"
(From "Hatori Shinichi Morning Show" broadcast on December 3, 2024)