Rakan no Sato in Aioi is glorious in summer, a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors by camping or playing by the river. It is also spectacular in autumn, as the foliage turns a brilliant shade of red.
Tucked up in the mountains of Hyogo Prefecture, it is not particularly easy to reach by public transport, involving a combination of train, bus and walking. And yet, foreign tourists flock to this unassuming village for one reason in particular.
I wanted to find out for myself, so I set out to retrace the tourist route to Rakan no Sato.
The hills were ablaze with autumn colors, while the village itself was busy preparing for a festival to celebrate the abundant harvest. There were spectacular vistas in front of me everywhere I turned.
And there were so many little surprises to discover on my journey, not least the people I met along the way.
In this episode of Hyogo Field Pavilion, we explored the background to how local people became involved with Rakan no Sato.
You’re sure to enjoy watching a master craftsman at work, meeting some friendly locals and admiring the spectacular natural scenery of the Uryu region in Aioi.