Tenkawa Village Sightseeing WebsiteVILLAGE MAP
Tenkawa Village Map
Dorogawa Area
Dorogawa Area with a close view of Mount Omine (a.k.a. Mount Sanjo-gatake), a sacred mountain founded by En-no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo (mountain asceticism), in the Dorogawa area.
Blessed with water, including Dorogawa Springs (selected as one of the best 100 springs in Japan) and hot springs, the area is lined with inns, restaurants and stores such as the one selling Daranisuke (a Japanese herbal stomach medicine). It is also a base for climbing and sightseeing around Mount Omine (Mount Sanjo-gatake).
There are many attractions such as Ryusen-ji Temple, which is said to have been founded 1300 years ago, limestone caves, suspension bridges, and the Dorogawa Nature Study Path.
Central Area
The gateway to enter the village by traveling south on Route 309.
Visitors can enjoy nature walks in all four seasons as this is where the trailheads to Mount Hakkyo-gatake and Mount Misen, the highest peaks in the Kinki region, the starting point of the Mitarai Trail are located. Down the clear Amanogawa River, the Tenkawa Daibenzaiten Shrine, which is the first of Japan’s three great Benzaiten shrines, sits solemnly. The Amanogawa Hot Spring welcomes visitors with the refreshing scent of wood and the atmosphere of a hidden hot spring.
Western Area
There are many attractive spots in the western part of the village: Tenkawa Tenwa-no Sato, a community center featuring nature and history, Mizuha-no Yu, a public bath facility which is popular for its open-air medicinal herbal bath, and many places where the connections with Kobo Daishi (8-9th century) remain. Since the area is distant from the Dorogawa and the Central areas, visitors can fully enjoy the unexplored nature of the area including Tochio Kannon-do Hall which is known for its Buddhist statue carved by Enku (17th century).
| Place | Distance | Time required |
|---|---|---|
| Mitarai Valley | 2.5km | 5 min by car / 40 min. on foot |
| Tenkawa Daibenzaiten Shrine | 3.2km | 5 min by car / 45 min. on foot |
| Amanogawa Hot Spring | 3.4km | 5 min by car |
| Dorogawa Hot Spring | 5.5km | 10 min by car |
| Omine Bridge | 10km | 17 min by car |
| Mizuha-no Yu | 15km | 25 min by car |
| Gyoja-gaeri Tunnel (West) | 15km | 30 min by car |
| Daito Town Sakamoto Route 168 | 22km | 30 min by car |
| Oyodo Town Michi-no Eki I Center | 27km | 40 min by car |
| Mount Koya Oku-no-in Temple | 50km | 60 min by car |
*The displayed distance and estimated time are based on the reference point of “Tenkawa Kawai.”
Approximate travel time within the village
Road Restrictions & Road Closures in Winter
- Large vehicles are not allowed on the road from the vicinity of Mitarai Valley to Gyoja-gaeri Tunnel on Route 309 (microbuses up to 2.6 m high and 7 m long are permitted to pass).
- Gyoja-gaeri Tunnel on Route 309 is closed in winter (mid-December to mid-April).
- Prefectural Road Dorogawa Shimoichi Route (Kominami Pass direction) and Prefectural Road Mount Omine Park Route (from Hahako-do Hall to Omine Ohashi Bridge) are closed in winter.
- Yoshino Omine Route (Dorogawa to Yoshino) and the Takahara Dorogawa Route (Dorogawa to Kawakami Village) are closed in winter (December to the end of March).
Approximate travel time
- About 1 hour from Kashihara Jingu Shrine or Asuka Village
- Slightly over 1 hour from Okuno-in of Mount Koya (via Prefectural Road 53; no large vehicles allowed)
- Slightly over 2 hours from Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine (via Prefectural Road 53; no large vehicles allowed)
- About 1.5 hours from Odaigahara (no large vehicles allowed)