FAQs

It is operated by East Nara Nabari Tourism Marketing, a government-affiliated organization. The organization is composed of six municipalities: Nabari City in Mie Prefecture, and Uda City, Soni Village, Mitsue Village, Yamazoe Village, and Higashiyoshino Village in Nara Prefecture. We connect travelers with local nature, history, and communities, working in collaboration with the region to introduce the hidden gems of Japan.

East Nara Nabari is located between Osaka and Nagoya, stretching from eastern Nara into western Mie. It is a scenic area famous for its mountains, valleys, and rich natural environment.

Yes, you can. However, we recommend staying overnight to fully immerse yourself in the relaxed atmosphere of the region. You can find our list of accommodations here.

Most accommodations and some local shops offer free Wi-Fi. While mobile signal is reliable in most areas, it can be limited or unavailable in remote nature spots.

Major restaurants and accommodations generally accept credit cards. However, many smaller, locally-owned shops are cash-only. QR code payments like PayPay is growing, but carrying cash is highly recommended.

The main tourist spots regularly have international visitors, so you will be able to communicate in English. However, if you go to the very small villages or local shops, English support might be limited. Using a translation app is usually very helpful in those areas.

You can reach our region from any of those cities via Kintetsu Railway. Please use Nabari Station or Haibara Station, as they are the main gateways to the region (More info here).
Beyond these stations, travel is mainly by bus or taxi. We highly recommend renting a car to explore the region at your own pace.

Some major spots are accessible by public transport. Destinations like Akame 48 Waterfalls and Murou-ji Temple can be reached year-round. Additionally, special direct buses operate during peak seasons for the rime ice at Mt. Miune and Mt. Takami, and the cherry blossoms at Takami-no-Sato.

Yes, you can find them around Nabari Station.

Major roads and highways in the area are wide and easy to drive.
However, some mountain roads are narrow and may require pulling over to let oncoming traffic pass. Navigation apps sometimes suggest very narrow forest paths as shortcuts. We recommend checking alternative routes in advance.

No, ride-sharing services like Uber are not available in this region. However, you can use GO, a popular Japanese taxi app that offers a similar experience.

No, the JR Pass is not valid here, as the region is served by Kintetsu Railway. We suggest the 5-day Kintetsu Rail Pass for convenient travel.

Typically from June to September. Please contact us for details, as sessions may be extended or held during special periods.

For Mt. Miune, the bus usually runs from mid-January to mid-February on weekends and public holidays. For Mt. Takami, it operates from early February until around February 23rd. Both the Mt. Miune and Mt. Takami buses require prior reservations.

The peak season is usually from late March to early April. However, in colder areas, the blossoms may peak between mid and late April (See list here).

Typically, the best time is from early November to early December, depending on the elevation and the weather.

There are three tattoo-friendly Onsen facilities in the region (including one where only small tattoos that can be covered with a patch are permitted). For more details, please see this onsen list.