観光アプリ「kami_tabi」への情報掲載登録フォーム

A Journey to Satiate Your Heart and Stomach in Autumn

In Kami Town, where time flows at a leisurely pace, we will introduce you to spots where you can feel autumn all over your body, and seasonal autumn delicacies such as Kasumi carb.

Spend some time in Kami Town, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the nature that fills your heart and stomach.

［point 1］Feel the Changing of the Seasons in Nature

Wherever you look in town, you can see a spectacular view of the beautiful autumn colors. Here is a guide to such autumn foliage spots in Kami Town.
In the nature, take a big breath of clean air and relax your mind and body. Take a drive and try to find your favorite autumn scenery.

OJiro Valley: Enjoy Autumn Colors while Driving through the Valley

The Ojiro Valley is listed as one of the 50 best places for forest bathing in Hyogo Prefecture. The deep cliffs of the Ojiro Valley weave their way through the thick virgin forest, and the autumn leaves change their colors with the coming and going of the seasons. 

You can feel the power of nature as the autumn leaves, especially those of beech trees, beautifully decorate the area around the powerful waterfalls such as the “Uodomenotaki Waterfall”, whose name comes from the face that even fish cannot climb it.

Autumn Foliage at Saruodaki-Waterfall

In autumn, the contrast between the blazing red leaves and the white water is beautiful at Saruodaki-Waterfall. As the upper part of the waterfall runs wildly straight down, while the lower part is flowing gently, the autumn leaves look different in different places. Enjoy the unique autumn scenery of the waterfalls. 

If you find the Buddha statue hidden in the waterfall, you may be blessed.

Tajima Plateau Botanical Gardens: Be healed by the sweet-smelling carpet

Located at an altitude of 666 meters above sea level, the Tajima Plateau Botanical Garden is home to about 2,000 species of native plants from spring to autumn. A thousand-year-old giant katsura tree and other rare plants change their colors. At the end of autumn, the entire area becomes a carpet of fallen leaves and the sweet scent of the fallen leaves of katsura tree is soothing. 

There is also a restaurant in the park with a menu including a course of Tajima beef.

Terraced Paddy Fields in Ueyama Mountain: Looking over the Autumn-colored mountains and terraced rice fields

The Terraced Paddy Fields in Ueyama Mountain are one of the 100 best terraced paddy fields in Japan. In autumn, the rice plants glow with a golden color, reminding us of the arrival of the season. When the rice is harvested, you can see the “rice-rigging” in which the harvested rice is hung on the rice trees, bringing bace the original Japanese scenery.

Even ager harvest, the scenery of the terraced rice paddies surrounded by mountains turning autumnal colors will make you fully feel the changing of the seasons.

［point 2］Enjoy Autumn in Kami Town with Your Whole Body

Here are some spots where you can enjoy camping and outdoor activities and feel the life of nature in autumn all around you. The autumn scenery will make you want to click away.

Kinodendo (The Museum of Wood Culture): Feel and Learn about Nature

Kinodendo is a museum in the forest. Designed by Tadao Ando with the concept of “Forest, Sea, and Sun” as its theme. It is a nature learning facility that introduces the wonders of forests and trees, the origin of Japanese culture, from a variety of viewpoints through special exhibitions and hands-on programs related to nature. 

The trees and mountains that can be seen from the museum are colored with reds and yellows in autumn, giving visitors a firsthand experience of the life energy of the forest. Here both adults and children can enjoy themselves and take a deep breath.

Yoshitaki Campground & Cottage Village: Waking up with a sea of clouds after an overnight camping

This campground is surrounded by 1,000 meter hight mountains. The best time to see the sea of clouds is in the early morning before dawn from October to December, so you have to wake up early and climb to a high altitude. But if you stay at Yoshitaki Campground, the sea of clouds will be right in front of you the moment you wake up!

Enjoy the luxury of star-filled sky at night and the sea of clouds as you wake up in the morning.

Kebiōike-Park: Enjoy the Outdoors by a Pond Reflecting the Autumn Leaves

Forest, lakes, dane brilliant stars at night make Kebiōike-Park a hidden highland resort known only to those who know about it. On a sunny autumn day, just laying out a leisure sheet and gazing at the colored mountains reflected in the pond is enough to fill your heart with happiness.

On the banks of the pond, there are ground, tennis court, woody log cabins, Japanese style cottages, and campgrounds, making it a perfect place for nature exploring and outdoor activities.

Attention: From September 2021, the log houses and cottages are closed for maintenance. Only for camping. (Same-day registration only, no reservations.)

Daijyoji Temple: Improve your Mint by Copying sutras and Buddha Image

If you are looking for a relaxing trip or want to spend some time alone, why not visit Daijyoji Temple where you can do “Shakyo”(Copying sutras) and “Shabutsu”(copying Buddha’s images)?

Shakyo and Shabutsu can be done by simply tracing lines and letters, making it easy for anyone to experience. It is a great way to face yourself and improve your mind, as you sit up straight and quietly brush away in a moment of peace. 

You can also listen to the sounds of nature outside the temple, such as the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds.

［point 3］Crab Season Arrives in Kami Town

Kami Town’s autumn is the time to start crab fishing. The crabs are landed in fresh condition at the Kasumi fishing port by day-trip fishing. The freshest and finest crabs are sure to be appreciated as a nice present.

Kasumi Crab (in September): Fresh Snow Crab

Kasumi crabs are harvested in September! In Kansai region, red snow crab is only landed at Kasumi fishing port. Grown in the nutrient-rich deep waters of the Sea of Japan, the crab is packed with flesh that is mouth-watering, sweet, fresh and juicy. Just thinking about it makes you drool.

Compared to Matsuba crab, Kasumi crab has a longer fishing season and is more affordable. Let’s enjoy it in various ways. Boiled crabs, hot pots, grilled crabs, crab sashimi… You can enjoy them in a full course at any accommodation.

Kasumi Crab Lunch Fair (2021.9.1-2022.5.31)

You can enjoy an original lunch using the freshest Kasumi crab at restaurants in the Town. There are many menus that make the best use of crabs, such as a set of crab hot pot and sashimi, a bowl of rice topped with a boiled crab, a hearty tempura, and a bowl of udon noodles filled with crab meat.

Finally, the Matsuba Crab’s Season is coming (November)

Every year, November 6th is a special day for Kami Town, because the Matsuba crab fishing ban is lifted! The whole town is abuzz with activity. Just enjoy Matsuba Crab, the king of winter delicacies, with its packed meat, meltingly sweet taster, rich flavor and aromatic crab paste.

［point 4］Bring Kami Town’s Seasonal Products to Your Table

For souvenirs and gifts, it is important to know about Kami Town’s special seasonal products. Roadside rest areas such as “Muraoka Farm Garden”, “Ayu no Sato Yatagawa”, “Michi no Eki Hachikita”, and “Michi no Eki Amarube” are popular among tourists for their selection of local seasonal products.

A Melting Taste on The Tongue –  Tajima Beef Sukiyaki with Autumn Vegetables

In autumn, you can enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth texture of Tajima beef. The thick and juicy meat of Tajima beef is also good for a steak. When the weather is getting colder, one way to enjoy it is to warm up with sukiyaki or shabu-shabu pot. You can also but it and some seasonal vegetables on the way back home and have fun at home.

Kasumi Pears – Grown with the “blessing of Japan sea”

In Kami Town, 10 kinds of pears are produced and shipped, including the Nijisseki Pear, which boasts the largest prodection volume in Hyogo Prefecture, the Kosui Pear, and the Niitaka Pear. It is said that the sweetness of these Kasumi pears, grown in the ocean breeze from the Sea of Japan, is enhanced by the breeze hitting the mountain slopes. Some farmers grow them in organic fertilized soil with crab shells, which is typical of Kami Town. The juicy and crunchy texture, and the refreshing and elegant sweetness without being stubborn are the characteristics of the Kasumi pear.

Hatahata (Japanese Sandfish)- a Common Local Food

Autumn is also the season for Hatahata, and in recent years, Hyogo Prefecture has actually been the largest catcher of it in Japan. Kami Town is one of the largest producers of overnight dried Hatahata in Japan. 

　If you fry the small Hatahata, you can enjoy the savory flavor and eat the bones as well. In t can also be arranged in many other ways, such as boiled, grilled, tempura, fried with cheese, and nanbanzuke.

Rice- Grown with the Blessing of Nature

The reason why Kami Town’s rice is so delicious is that it is grown in the clean valley water between the mountains. Also, during the ripening period, which determines the taste of the rice, the temperature difference is the greatest and the sugar content increases.

　The terraced rice paddies where the rice is grown are made from landslides and serve as a “green dam” for disaster prevention.

・Crab’s Smile

　Is there a relationship between rice and crabs? 
　“Crab’s Smile”, a rare rice produced on in the Kasumi district, is grown in rice fields where the soil has been prepared with local organic fertilizer mixed with finely crushed crab shells. It is a safe and secure “specially cultivated rice” that uses less pesticides and chemical fertilizer and its sweetness and chewy texture will make you smile.

・Muraoka Rice

　Tajima Muraoka Rice has won the “Taste of Rice Competition” award for nine years in a row. The rice grows well in Muraoka, blessed with clear water and rich soil in the mountains, and is one of the best rice in Tajima.

・Ojiro Rice

　There are two kinds of rice that are representative of Ojiro. One is the “Tnada rice” grown in the Ueyama terraced rice fields and loved by many people. The other is “Sozukarausu Ojiro rice”, which is made by using valley water and pounding rice with a pestle to slowly and deliberately polish the rice for about five days. The rice is carefully cultivated carefully by Tajima cattle, the pride of Japan.