At Akiu, there’s heavy snow and the whole landscape is white. I love the way these temples look in the winter, so clean and serene. Inside the temple shrine is a 3.3 metre high bronze statue of the guardian deity Fudo Myo-o. The story says that an important priest called Jikaku Daishi did his religious training for 100 days here at the waterfall in the 9 th century AD. This main Buddhist temple is called Akiu Otaki Fudo-do and has a legend surrounding it. Akiu Otaki Fudo-doĪt the top of Akiu Falls, you’ll find a peaceful forested area with a main temple and several shrines dotted amongst the trees. But I’m going to describe it as adventurous because in winter you have to trudge through thick snow up and down slopes, to get to the bottom, holding on where you can to stop from slipping down.īut, as you can see from my photos, it is certainly worth the expedition. In the warmer months, this main trail is probably quite easy – maybe a 20 minute stroll. But for the more adventurous, there are trails that lead right to the bottom of the Akiu Falls. What I find is a pristine snowscape broken only by the great torrent of water crashing down the mountains.įrom the top, there’s a viewpoint that lets you look out across the valley and the river below, across to the dramatic cascades. I’ve been told that Akiu Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Japan and I head out there, not exactly sure what to expect. Let’s start with the nature – dramatic enough any time of the year but amplified in winter, which I find the country currently blanketed in. It doesn’t get a lot of tourists at the moment but it’s just 90 minutes on the train from Tokyo to Sendai (the capital) and offers everything I’ve come to love about Japan (including a trip on a shinkansen to get there!). Today I want to tell you about a new region for me – Miyagi Prefecture. And this unique mix means you’ll always have a distinct experience. In each part of Japan, you’ll find different nature, different culture and different food. It would be a mistake, though, to think that you find the same balance of the three all across the country. What I enjoy about it so much is the balance of nature, culture and food – with modern and historical streaks mixed through it all. I’m sure I have mentioned before how Japan is one of my favourite countries. Things to see in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
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