2026 Kamiyama Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in January)

I stayed at the guesthouse, Sakura-ya, in Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima Prefecture. This is a renovated guesthouse from an old house in Kamiyama-cho that is over 150 years old. It was a nostalgic inn! If you stay here, you will receive a ticket to Kamiyama Onsen. The toilet and washroom are only in the main house, so if you are staying at Hanare, you will have to go outside! There are no amenities, so I recommend bringing everything with you! The room was spacious, which was nice! Please try staying here once! #Tokushima Prefecture #Kamiyama Onsen #Kamiyama Town #Sakura-ya

At the end of a small road in Kamiyama, you'll find a small bakery enveloped in the aroma of wood and freshly baked bread. It's called "Kamapan." ⸻ 🏡 What is Kamapan? Attached to "Kama-ya" in Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture, Kamapan is a bakery that uses local ingredients. With the theme of "bread that fits into everyday life," locals and travelers alike come here to take a break. Inside the store, you'll find: • Country baguettes and rustic breads made with locally grown wheat • Soft savory breads kneaded with seasonal ingredients • Homemade jams and granola made with Kamiyama fruits All of the items on offer convey the flavor of their careful handcraft. ⸻ ☕️ Recommended Spend Visit in the quiet morning hours, and grab some takeout bread and soup for breakfast "along the Kamiyama River." Locals greet you with a smile, and here you'll feel like your travels are melting into your everyday life. ⸻ 🌾 Kamapan's Vision "Local ingredients, local hands" This place was born as a hub for creating a food cycle, connecting Kamiyama farmers, chefs, and Kamaya staff. Buying bread helps support the town's future— This bakery offers a heartwarming realization. ⸻ 📍 Kamapan 190 Jinryo Kita, Kamiyama-cho, Myosa-gun, Tokushima Prefecture Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (or until sold out) Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays Attached: Kamaya (restaurant) ⸻ A morning in Kamiyama, where the aroma of freshly baked bread blends with the warmth of people. This is a place that makes you want to take a little stroll, bread in hand. #Japan Travel Guide #Tokushima #Domestic Travel #Kamiyama #Bakery

[Temple No. 12: Shosanji Temple | Myosa District, Tokushima Prefecture "A sacred mountain temple that will cleanse your soul, located at the end of a rugged path."] — Known as the "most difficult part of the pilgrimage route," Yakusanji Temple is a sacred temple located in the mountains at an altitude of approximately 700m. ✨ It was named after the legend that Kobo Daishi trained here and exorcised an evil spirit that was burning down the mountain. 🔥 The sense of accomplishment upon reaching the summit and the feeling of being surrounded by the clear, pure air are indescribable. 🙏 📍 [Basic Information] ・Address: 318 Naka, Shimobun, Kamiyama-cho, Myosa District, Tokushima Prefecture ・Access: Approximately 6-8 hours on foot or 50 minutes by car from the 11th temple, Fujiidera ・Parking: Available (Free) *The mountain path is narrow, so driving with caution is advised. 🕰 [Visiting/Sutra Offering Hours] ・7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Open Daily) ⸻ 🏔 [Highlights/Recommended Points] • The principal image of the temple is "Kokuzo Bosatsu" → A Buddha who bestows memory, academic success, and wisdom • The main hall and Daishi Hall quietly nestle in the mountains → The moss-covered stone steps are also very charming • The approach and grounds are blended with nature → A truly soothing experience 🍃 • The "Teisugi-an" spring within the grounds → This is the legendary spot where water gushed forth when Kobo Daishi thrust his walking stick into the ground. ⸻ 🎒 [Tips and Tricks] • If you're walking the pilgrimage, be sure to be fully prepared → Bring food, drinks, and hiking boots 💧🥾 • Even if you're coming by car, the roads are narrow and steep → Drive carefully 🚗 • The grounds are at a high altitude, so the temperature drops. Bring a jacket 🧥 • The moss-covered landscape is beautiful → Watch your step on rainy days as it can be slippery ☔️ ⸻ #Shozanji #12thTemple #88Temples of Shikoku #AbsolutelyFreeTravel

#AbsolutelyFreeTrip Located in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, Kamiyama Town is a creative town where artists gather. Galleries and studios are scattered throughout the town, renovating vacant and old houses, creating a unique atmosphere where nature and art blend together. 🏡🖌️ When you visit, you'll find artworks woven throughout the town, and just walking around is a constant source of discovery. The locals are friendly, and you can even see artists at work up close. There are plenty of spots to enjoy both your senses and your taste buds, like the "Forest of Creation" and "KAMIYAMA BEER." 🍺✨ A couple's art tour is wonderful, and solo exploration is also recommended. Next time, I'd like to stay overnight and relax in the Kamiyama atmosphere. 🌲 [Access] It's about an hour's drive from JR Tokushima Station. Public transportation is limited, so a rental car is recommended. Getting around the town is easy on foot or by bicycle. Kamiyama Town #Art Project #Creative Town #Tokushima Art Trip #Domestic Travel #Couple Travel #Solo Travel

I had lunch at "Kamaya" with Ominami-san, who showed me around Kamiyama Town☺️ When I decided to go to Kamikatsu and Kamiyama two months ago, I knew I wanted to go here for lunch in Kamiyama! So I checked out this restaurant right away. I went there around 11:30. The restaurant was already full, so I had to wait a little. It's so popular that you wouldn't think it's in the mountains...💓 There's only one type of lunch. You order and pay at the counter at the entrance. This place is also very Kamiyama-like, and people who live in the town can eat at "town prices" at a slightly better price. I like the way it feels rooted in the "daily life" of the local people. The kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant, and the seats are arranged around it. The names of "local people who deliver vegetables" are lined up on the wall🫶 They grow rice and vegetables on their own farm, or purchase them in cooperation with local agricultural groups. I was touched by their cool attitude of using local ingredients. Right next door there is a bakery called "Yamapan" which is also delicious...🫰🏻 I'll also note down the basic information about Kamaya✍️ ・Cafe/Lunch: 9:00-16:00 (L.O.15:00) ※Lunch is from 11:00 ・Morning (Saturdays and Sundays only): 2 shifts from 9:00/9:30 ・Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (※Open if Monday is a national holiday) #EnjoyJapan

"Sakura Festival in Shirafu Village, Onigoro, Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima Prefecture" This event will be held in early April. In the vacant lot along Prefectural Route 21 in front of the old Onigoro Elementary School, you can enjoy food stalls selling sushi and takoyaki, as well as freshly pounded rice cakes. You can also enjoy the contrast between the cherry blossoms and forsythia on the Sakura Walk along National Route 438. ■Date of event: Saturday, April 5, 2025 - Sunday, April 6, 2025 ■Opening hours: Varies by venue ■Address: Onigoro, Kamiyama-cho, Nanai-gun, Tokushima Prefecture ■Fee: Free ■Parking: Free #0 yen trip

📍神光寺　のぼり藤 神光寺の「のぼり藤」と呼ばれる藤の花は見事です！ 先代の住職が優良品種を接ぎ木して管理し育てたものだそうです。 「大きな藤はどこにでもある。天に昇っているような藤がここの特徴であり、ポイント。」と話す住職が自慢する藤です。 樹勢は旺盛で10数メートルも立ち上がります。 花の見頃は4月下旬頃で、薄紫色のぶどうのような見事な花を咲かせ、 あたり一帯が藤の甘い香りに包まれます。 遠景でのぼり藤の勇敢な姿を眺めた後は、 近くによって藤の香りに包まれてみてください。 きっとゆったりと優しい気持ちになれるはず。 境内にある白藤との競演や、近隣の菜の花畑も美しく、春色に彩られる里山の風景をお楽しみいただけます。 またその他にも、神山町には焼山寺山に県指定の藤の群生地があり、 藤の開花期には町内各地で野生の藤が楽しめます。

📍Frozen waterfall at Jinzu Falls When a waterfall freezes completely on a cold day, it is called a frozen waterfall. A few days after a heavy snowfall, I went to see Jinzu Falls in Kamiyama Town, which is famous for its frozen waterfalls. It is a hidden spot deep in the Jinzu Valley, known for its deep greenery and seasonal beauty. Jinzu Falls, with a drop of 30 meters, is famous as one of the most famous waterfalls in the prefecture, and in winter it turns into a divine frozen waterfall. The parking lot is slippery with frozen snow, so light crampons are necessary. There is snow on the hiking trail, so it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to arrive. This is the parking lot above (studded tires or chains are required).

📍Myo-oji Temple, Tokushima Prefecture Myo-oji Temple has two weeping cherry trees, one 80 years old and the other 60 years old, which bloom in competition with each other from late March to early April. The graceful appearance of the weeping cherry trees, which are about 10 meters tall and sway in the wind, has a special elegance and beauty, and forms a magnificent waterfall of flowers over the white walls of the mountain gate. The long waterfall of cherry blossoms hangs down right in front of you, and walking along the wall gives you the feeling of being wrapped in a curtain of cherry blossoms, allowing you to enjoy the cherry blossoms even from a close distance. #0 yen trip January 2025

📍Takebito no Mori, Tokushima Prefecture A flower garden above the clouds, this 1,000m-high rhododendron spot in Shikoku is also home to a colony of Himeshiga. The Takebito no Mori promenade is crammed with Himeshiga, a species designated as endangered by the Ministry of the Environment. This mountain botanical garden was developed by the owner, who has devoted his life to preserving rare plants for future generations. The large colony of Himeshiga, designated as a near-threatened species by the Ministry of the Environment, is extremely popular. At this time of year, the more than 1,500 Himeshiga plants that the owner has worked so hard to increase, bloom all at once. Many people visit from all over Japan, including Shikoku and the Kansai region. #0yentripJanuary2025

Famous for its same-day hot spring tour, "Shenshan Hot Spring Hotel Four Seasons & Healing Soup”, the legendary goddess descended to the sacred mountain hot springs to dance, spiritual water flowed from the ground, from the accumulation of spiritual water, the divine mountain hot spring was praised for its smooth water quality, the food is not sloppy, the hotel provides use of virtue Island specialty sour tangerine infused drinks, Tang Yang fried Shenshan chicken, Shenshan mushroom pot roast, etc., locally produced locally served, play the most delicious side of the ingredients, the food will change with the seasons to provide seasonal ingredients, spacious and comfortable living room (8 stacks) is also one of the selling points #September Good Places 2024 #Spa Hotels

The Shikoku Mountain Botanical Garden, 'Yugito no Mori,' is located in Kamiyama Town at an altitude of approximately 1000 meters. It features a variety of rare and endangered plants that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons. In spring, you can see rhododendrons and Japanese iris, while in summer, the garden is known for its beautiful Thalictrum. Autumn brings stunning foliage and the elegant red-flowered Paeonia japonica. Each season offers a unique floral display. Additionally, the garden has facilities for camping and dining. The 'Tsukimi Chaya' restaurant offers creative Japanese cuisine using local ingredients, including country-style soba and seasonal set meals, making it the perfect place to recharge after flower viewing. The name 'Tsukimi Chaya' is said to come from the fact that you can see the moon from inside the restaurant.

NATURE HEALING KAMIYAMA combines traditional Japanese earthen walls and wooden structures to create a unique wood smoke aroma that soothes the body and mind. For those who want to get closer to nature, you can enter the campsite area to experience the recently popular tent sauna, enjoy the natural scenery, and play by the river afterwards.

I went to SHIZQ, a shop in Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, that makes plates, cups, and other items using cedar wood! The shop was established with the concept of "A place where people can connect with each other while enjoying the world of SHIZQ." Not only can you enjoy crafts made from cedar wood, but you can also enjoy a panoramic view of Kamiyama. Just being in the shop was comfortable. If you're in Kamiyama-cho, be sure to check it out! #Kamiyama-cho #shizq #Tokushima Prefecture

I went to a restaurant called Matsubayan in Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima Prefecture! I had the lunch set, which really brought out the flavor of the vegetables and was delicious! If you're in Kamiyama-cho, be sure to stop by! #Kamiyama-cho #Matsubayan #Tokushima Prefecture

I went to Kamaya, a restaurant in Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima Prefecture! You can enjoy a different lunch every week! The lunch, which used plenty of local ingredients, was delicious! If you are in Kamiyama-cho, please stop by for a meal! #Kamaya #Kamiyama-cho #Tokushima Prefecture

I went to a bakery in Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture! The bread, made with Kamiyama-grown flour, was chewy and delicious! Why not buy some as a souvenir? It's sure to be a hit! #KamiyamaTown #Kamapan #TokushimaPrefecture

I went to a roadside station in Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima Prefecture! They sell local vegetables, fruits, side dishes, and more! You can get local products from Kamiyama-cho! If you're in Kamiyama-cho, be sure to stop by! #Kamiyama-cho #Tokushima Prefecture