[Nara Stay Experience Report] Listening to the Voices of the "Guardian Forest": The "World Heritage Kasugayama Primeval Forest Guided Walk" Edition

Interest in Nara City's hometown tax program has been growing year by year. In Reiwa 6 (2024), the amount of donations increased by 156% compared to the previous year, and the variety of return gifts expanded to about 1.5 times that of the previous year, now reaching approximately 2,000 items.

Behind this is an initiative to deliver not only Nara's specialty products but also the time spent in Nara City itself, such as 'stays' and 'experiences,' as return gifts.

In this feature, we will deliver the charm of Nara City not just as a tourist destination but as a 'place to live' through these experiential return gifts in the form of a stay experience report.

This time, we introduce the hometown tax return gift, "World Heritage Kasugayama Primeval Forest Guided Walk."

We will introduce to you a moment to connect with the forest, walking through the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, which still retains its pristine appearance while being adjacent to an open city, using all five senses.

Tsuku-tsuku-boshi, chi-chi-chi-chi, rustling, murmuring... As you step into the forest that is continuous with the residential area, you are enveloped by the chirping of insects and birds, the rustling of trees, and the babbling of a small stream.

This is the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, which, despite being adjacent to an open city, still maintains its primeval state. It is considered one with Kasuga Taisha Shrine and has been protected as a sanctuary for over 1100 years since hunting and logging were banned in 841 AD. It is a 'guardian forest'.

Why not take your time to savor the clear air of this precious primeval forest with the hometown tax return gift "World Heritage Kasugayama Primeval Forest Guided Walk"?

A Journey to Walk Through a World Cultural Heritage Forest,
Touching Primeval Nature and History

The Kasugayama Primeval Forest, registered as one of the World Cultural Heritage sites of 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara,' is also designated as a Special Natural Monument of the country, and its pristine state has been passed down to this day. On the other hand, it has also been revered as a place of training for Nara's monks, and a major feature is that one can feel the connection between humans and nature from the historical sites left in the forest.

The course for this guided walk is called the 'Takisaka no Michi (Old Yagyu Kaido) and Southern Promenade.' Together with a guide, you will walk through the valley between Mt. Kasuga and Mt. Takamado, visiting historical sites such as the stone-paved road laid for the Nara Magistrate in the Edo period, and stone Buddhas that were objects of mountain worship.

The required time is over four hours. Some may worry, 'Can I walk that long?' However, as you walk while savoring the magnificent nature and historical sites with a guide, you become so absorbed that you forget the length of time. The tour proceeds with moderate stops for conversation and explanations, so even hiking beginners can walk without difficulty.