2025 Gojo Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

Facing the Yoshino River, Gojo flourished as a key transportation hub connecting the mountainous and plain areas of Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture) and even Kii Province (present-day Wakayama Prefecture). At the beginning of the Edo period, when Matsukura Shigemasa (?-1630) developed a castle town with Gojo Shinmachi at its core, its prosperity increased even more and it developed into the central city of the central and southern part of Yamato Province in both name and reality. In 1616, the Matsukura clan was transferred to Shimabara in Hizen Province (present-day Saga Prefecture and most of Nagasaki Prefecture) with an additional fief, and Gojo became a direct territory of the shogunate. Behind this lies the fact that the shogunate placed great importance on Gojo as a base for water transport of timber from the Yoshino and Omine mountain ranges to Kii Province and further to Osaka, and as a base for the Kishu Kaido road. At the end of the 18th century, the Gojo magistrate's office was established next to Shinmachi, and governed the area's 70,000 koku of land. Today, exhibition facilities such as the Gojo City Townscape Heritage Museum (photos 2 and 3) and the Gojo City Shinmachi Machiyakan (photos 1 and 4) stand in Gojo Shinmachi, allowing visitors to recall the prosperity of the past. Throughout the Edo period, Gojo was neighboring the Kishu Domain, one of the three main clans, the Tenryo, and minor feudal lords such as the Takatori Domain (Uemura clan, Takatori Castle in Yamato Province), and although it was sometimes plagued by floods of the Yoshino River, it lived in peace. However, on the night of August 17, 1863, exactly 10 years after Perry's arrival, the magistrate's office was suddenly attacked by several dozen ronin, and the magistrate Suzuki Gennai was killed. This was the beginning of the so-called "Tenchu-gumi Incident," and Gojo was caught up in the turbulent waves of the times with this vivid shock. The Tenchu-gumi was originally a group formed by sonno joi ronin who wanted to be the vanguard of Emperor Komei's (1831-1867) visit to Yamato, which had been announced by imperial decree at the time. They had Chamberlain Nakayama Tadamitsu (1845-1864, Emperor Meiji's uncle) as their commander, and Fujimoto Tesseki (1816-1863, defector to Okayama Domain), Matsumoto Keidou (1832-1863, defector to Kariya Domain), and Yoshimura Toratarou (1837-1863, defector to Tosa Domain) were the three leaders who effectively led the group. All three leaders were leaders of Sonno Joi rōshi, and it is notable that they linked the theory of Sonno Joi to the "overthrow of the shogunate." Therefore, while officially calling it a prelude to the Imperial visit, in reality they were the ones who appointed themselves as the initiators of the overthrow of the shogunate. The Tenchugumi traveled from Kyoto to Osaka, and once there they took a boat to Osaka Bay, but quickly turned back to Sakai in Izumi Province (present-day southern Osaka Prefecture), crossed Chihaya Pass, and invaded Gojo from the northwest. The magistrate's office, which they faced, was manned by only the magistrate and a few shogunate officials, as was customary in times of peace, and although it was the government office governing a fief of 70,000 koku, it had no military forces whatsoever. The Tenchugumi had their eye on this, and since they had allies in Gojo town, such as Inui Juro (1828-1864), they attacked as a symbol of their overthrow of the shogunate. Once the Tenchugumi occupied Gojo, they made the area a direct territory of the emperor, and proclaimed the arrival of a new era. Today, the Gojo Civic Museum (photos 6 and 7), a renovated version of an existing Nagayamon gate, stands on the site of the magistrate's office, and provides a detailed explanation of the incident. You can also visit Sakurai-dera Temple (photo 8), where the Tenchu-gumi had their headquarters, and recall their high-spirited spirit. However, the Tenchu-gumi were left without a ladder, so to speak, and suffered a tragic fate when the Imperial Visit to Yamato, which was the premise for their existence, was canceled and the Sonno Joi faction was defeated in Kyoto. For Gojo, which had prospered since ancient times due to the physical conditions of its "horizontal axis" along the Yoshino River, the Tenchu-gumi's attack from the north was a "vertical axis" shock that shattered the long-standing peaceful mood. Also, at the end of the Meiji era, long after the Tenchugumi had left, plans for the "Goshin Railway" that would have run from Gojo to Shingu City in Wakayama Prefecture were scrapped, leaving only a small amount of laid track (photos 9 and 10). When you add this to the facts, I was struck by the mystery of how something like a "flow" of history, deeply rooted in the climate and the spirit of the people who live in the area, must have acted unconsciously as some great invisible force. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visited: Around 2pm on a weekday in the first week of October Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Gojo Station (to the Gojo Folklore Museum) #Gojo Folklore Museum #Gojo Shinmachi #Gojo Shinmachi Street #Nara #Nara Prefecture #Nara Trip #Nara Sightseeing #I'm a Nara School #Delicious and Beautiful Nara #Back to Nara now #Nara is Beautiful #Gojo City #Domestic Travel Lover #Tenchugumi #Late Edo Period #Late Edo Period Patriots #Lover of the Late Edo Period #Meiji Restoration #Torataro Yoshimura #Important Traditional Buildings #Old Streets #Old Streets #Famous Architecture #Walking the Highway #Goshin Railway #Abandoned Railway Line #Abandoned Railway Remains #History Lover #Solo Travel #Life with Travel

When you look at a map of Yamato Province, which is now Nara Prefecture, you can see that the southern half of the province is covered by steep mountain ridges, with fine folds and water currents carved into it like intricate workmanship. This "mountain territory" was revered with awe by the people of the capital who lived in the plains to the north, and while the blue mountains are covered in thick clouds and mist, it has maintained a unique mysticism. On the other hand, because it has abundant forest resources and a topography that is easy to defend, it has also been of great interest to the rulers of Yamato Province, who have sought nodes to this territory since ancient times. Eventually, these nodes appeared as cities and shrines on the borders where the mountains melt into the plains, and are inherited by the major municipalities in the central and southern parts of Nara Prefecture today. Of these, Gojo was the most important transportation hub in the westernmost area, leading to Kii Province (present-day Wakayama Prefecture). Gojo is located at the southern end of the long mountain range that stretches from Ikoma to Katsuragi to Kongo, which separates Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture, and is a plain that is slightly separated from the Omine mountain range that stretches from Yoshino to Kumano. This narrow plain was developed by the Yoshino River (known as the Kino River in Wakayama Prefecture), which originates in the deep mountain valley of Omine, flows through "junctions" such as Kamiichi and Shimoichi, overlooking Mount Yoshino in the distance, and then flows out of Kii Province into the Kitan Strait. If you look at the place names along the coast, you can see that it passes through all the key points of Yamato and Kii, which have been disputed areas in ancient Japanese history, and you can easily understand its great value. Evidence that Gojo has long been considered of strategic value is the existence of Eizan-ji Temple (photos 2-5, originally called Sakiyama-dera). Its founding dates back to 719 and is said to have been founded by Muchimaro (680-737, eldest son of Fuhito), the ancestor of the Southern House of the Fujiwara clan. It is a noteworthy historical fact that Muchimaro, a powerful aristocrat in the imperial government at the time, established his clan temple here, and considering its location facing the Yoshino River to the south, Muchimaro's desire to firmly control this waterway can also be seen. Furthermore, Muchimaro's son, Fujiwara no Nakamaro (706-764, later renamed Emi no Oshikatsu), who monopolized the imperial court in the mid-Nara period, built an octagonal hall on the temple grounds to commemorate his father's soul. Its design, which strikes an exquisite balance between aesthetic sense and functionality, is one of the quintessences of Tenpyo culture that remains to this day, and it is a noteworthy historical building in central and southern Nara Prefecture. In the Middle Ages, the Gojo area became a stage for conflict, and the region suffered severe damage, with Eizan-ji Temple burning down, leaving only its octagonal hall. The man who played a key role in its recovery was Matsukura Shigemasa (?-1630), who was given 10,000 koku of land in Gojo after the Battle of Sekigahara. Shigemasa, a senior vassal of the powerful Tsutsui clan in Yamato Province, was adept at sensing the changing times, and drew close to the mainstream of power, Toyotomi and Tokugawa, and was given the key location of Gojo. Later, Shigemasa moved to Shimabara in Hizen Province (present-day Saga Prefecture and most of Nagasaki Prefecture), where he ruled harshly and is said to have been the cause of the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion (1637), for which he is infamous in history. However, in Gojo, he is revered as a wise ruler who came up with a clever commercial promotion policy. Gojo Shinmachi, developed by Shigemasa, is a block that connects the Futami district, where the feudal government was located, with the old Gojo village along the Yoshino River, and by incorporating the Kishu Kaido into the town, it prospered while inheriting the bustle and flow of people from the old town. Even after Shigemasa moved to Shimabara and Gojo became a shogunate territory, Shinmachi continued to thrive under the rule of the Gojo Magistrate's Office, and despite repeated disasters, it has retained its traditional streetscape to this day. If you actually visit the area, you can hear the pleasant sound of the Yoshino River while walking around the town, and you can really feel the location's strong focus on water transportation. The streetscape includes the oldest house in Japan with a specific date (the Kuriyama family residence, built in 1607), while new things are blowing in, such as "chocobanashi Hitotsubashi Chocolate Stand Store," which manufactures and sells craft chocolate (photos 7-9; renovated and operated from a 100-year-old mochi shop in Gojo called Hitotsubashi. However, it is scheduled to relocate in March 2024). Although the area may be bustling, it fully embodies the charm and pride of being a "hub." Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visited: Around 2pm on a weekday in the first week of October Access: About 25 minutes on foot from Gojo Station (to Eizan-ji Temple) #Eizan-ji Temple #Gojo-shinmachi #Gojo-shinmachi Street #Nara #Nara Prefecture #Nara Trip #Nara Sightseeing #I'm a Nara Schooler #Delicious and Beautiful Nara #Back to Nara #Nara Beauty #Gojo City #Domestic Travel Lover #Temple Tour #Temple Lover #National Treasure #Temple and Shrine Tour #Temple and Shrine Tour #Shrine and Temple Tour #Important Traditional Buildings #Old Streets #Old Streets #Famous Architecture #Walking the Highway #chocobanashi #Craft Chocolate #History Lover #Solo Travel #Life with Travel

The so-called "Southern Court" that arose in the first half of the 14th century is famous for having established a temporary palace in Yoshino, Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture) in opposition to the "Northern Court" in Kyoto. However, Yoshino fell to the Northern Court forces in 1348, and thereafter the Southern Court asserted its authority from Kanao on the western foot of Yoshino. Kanao is located on the banks of the Nyukawa River, which runs north through the deep mountain valley of Omine, and when you actually visit the area, you will find it to be a tranquil small village that makes it hard to believe that an imperial court once existed in this valley (and what's more, when the Northern Court temporarily surrendered to the Southern Court in 1351, Kanao became Japan's nominal only capital). On the other hand, the road that runs through the region (National Route 168) has a surprisingly large amount of traffic, and the ancient ridge road leading to Mount Yoshino and Gojo remains, suggesting that it was an easy-to-defend and strategic location that allowed for free movement. The area of ​​Kanao is located on the mountain that connects Mount Koya and Yoshino, and was a key location for mountain traffic, with Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) using it as a temporary base before entering Yoshino. The local lord Hori clan took root in Kanao, and devotedly supported the successive emperors of the Southern Court. As a result, the Southern Court, exposed to the offensive of the Northern Court in large numbers, continued to resist tenaciously, relying on the ruggedness of the mountains and the hearts of the people who were loyal to the emperor. Thanks to this, in 1352, they broke the internal strife within the Northern Court and advanced on Kyoto. Morale was soaring when three retired emperors, including Emperor Kogon (1313-1364) of the Northern Court, were abducted to Gano. The Southern Court was united with the Northern Court in 1392 and finally lowered its flag in Gano, but the shadow of the Southern Court continued to permeate the culture of Gano, as the area became a stage for the movements of the so-called "Later Southern Court" (a force that appeared intermittently throughout the Muromachi period and claimed to be a descendant of the Southern Court) which aimed to restore the Southern Court. Its influence is still great today, and at the Gano Village History and Folklore Museum, many relics and traditions of the Southern Court are on display and explained. Behind the museum, on the mountainside, there is the grave of Kitabatake Chikafusa (1293-1354), the de facto leader of the Southern Court. He was also the foremost scholar of his time and famous for writing the book "Jinnō Shōtōki" which explained the legitimacy of the Southern Court. The Hori clan's mansion still exists, with its magnificent thatched roof shrouded in deep shadows and the impressive plaque reading "Imperial Palace" left behind by the Tenchūgumi (a group of rogue samurai who rose up in rebellion in 1863 as a pioneer of the Sonnō Joi movement. They fought all over Yamato but were defeated by the Shogunate forces) at the end of the Edo period. Since 2019, it has also operated as a lodging facility and restaurant under the name "Kanau Former Imperial Palace", making it easy for tourists to visit. Inside the building, you can enjoy Italian food made with locally produced ingredients while experiencing the history of the Hori clan, who have inherited precious cultural artifacts for hundreds of years, and the architectural value of the house. This strange harmony stirs up various thoughts. As I was lost in such imagination, I remembered a scene from volume 39 of "Taiheiki." The setting is exactly in Kanao, and personally, it is one of the most memorable passages in all of Japanese classical literature. During the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami (1328-1368), the second reigning Emperor of the Southern Court, a monk visits the Imperial Palace in Kanao with a small retinue in the midst of the harsh winter cold in the mountains. Incredibly, the monk is actually the disguised Emperor Kogon of the Northern Court, who returned to Kyoto several years ago after being released from his imprisonment in Kanao and went on a pilgrimage around the country. The emperor meets his sworn enemy, Emperor Go-Murakami, and they spend the night talking. He recounted that after he was caught up in the war that destroyed the Kamakura Shogunate at a young age, he was engulfed in bloody conflict with no rest, but he realized how sad the world was and wished to serve the Buddhist path and make all things in nature his friends. Emperor Go-Murakami and the nobles of the Southern Court were moved to tears to see the retired emperor, who had once been the central figure in the strife that divided Japan in two, speaking with a clear conscience. Eventually, the retired emperor stepped firmly on his straw sandals along the snow-covered mountain path and departed to wherever he might be. Emperor Go-Murakami saw him off himself and mourned their eternal farewell. When you think about it, the emperors of both courts were symbols of firmly incompatible ideologies, but in reality they were merely caught up in the political strife between samurai and nobles, and perhaps they shared a tragic sense of futility in the midst of the endless war. This dramatic meeting between the leaders of the two courts is highly creative yet appealing to people's hearts with a sense of realism, giving the land of Kanao a mysterious charm. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★★ (You can explore to your heart's content. It's almost a private venue!) Visit date: Around 12:00 on the first Saturday of October Access: About 20 minutes by car from Gojo IC #Kanao #Kanao no Sato History and Folklore Museum #Kanao Former Imperial Palace Kanau #Yoshino #Yoshinoyama #Nara #Nara Prefecture #Nara Trip #Nara Tourism #I'm a Nara School #Delicious and Beautiful Nara #Now Back to Nara #Nara Beauty #Gojo City #Domestic Travel Lover #Nanboku-cho Period #Southern Court #Taiheiki #Kitabatake Chikafusa #Japanese Literature #Classical Literature #Nara Gourmet #Wooden Architecture

Transportation Tips - Where to Stay in Front of Kansai Airport Local attractions: Remains of the Meiji Restoration railway bridge Hotel-King Kong Beauty Hot Spring Selection Japanese breakfast - large portions and fresh ingredients