3 nature escapes beyond the busy city of Kyoto perfect for first-timers and nature lovers seeking breath-taking, peaceful nature spots beyond the tourist trail in the beautiful region of Kyoto.
Day 1 - Breathe in the fresh forest air in an ancient forest with gentle hiking trails and a ghibli-like waterfall without the crowds. You can easily spend a whole day here exploring and relaxing. This place honestly has some of the most quiet, beautiful scenery we've ever seen in Japan.
Day 2 - Step back in time and wander through a quiet, sprawling monastery high up on in the mountains with sleepy forest trails dotted with shrines and wooden temples where you can take off your shoes and walk along terraces with striking forest views. This mountain is sacred (and you can really feel that as soon as you begin to explore its quiet forests).
Day 3 - Head to the Japanese seaside and explore a quiet fishing village that will make you feel as if you've stepped into a ghibli movie (namely, Ponyo). Here, you'll try Japanese ice cream and desserts at cafes overlooking the clear bright blue sea, wander along quiet traditional streets, and enjoy the calming slower pace of life.
All locations are accessible by public transport. Each one can work as a day trip from Kyoto but please note travel times will be fairly long, so you can choose to stay overnight (or longer) in each location to avoid travelling both ways in a single day if you prefer.