Sasayuri Ann, Fukano, Nara Prefecture
Why We Love It:
Located in a sleepy village overlooking the Muro-Akame-Aoyama National Park set amidst the border between Nara and Mie Prefectures lies one of our favorite Zen abodes, the Sasayuri Ann. 2 painstakingly restored thatched-roof houses sits on the ground where it was home to ancient ninja training grounds. Good friend of ours and owner of the house is Tetsuji Matsubayashi, a Shugendo monk that takes you on an incredible journey of purification and insight into a deeply unknown culture, heritage and way of life that has been lost on the rest of the world, until now....
Best Time To Visit:
The nearby Akame 48 Waterfalls - home to a stunning array of picturesque waterfalls and natural habitat of rare and endangered Japanese salamanders provides the impetus for a summer visit blessed with cooler micro climate from the primeval forests. Spring (early April) is astonishing for the cherry blossoms and autumn (Mid-November) is just mind-blowing
Best Combined with:
Accessible from almost all directions, the Sasayuri Ann is best incorporated on a journey in Spring with the stunning cherry-blossoms covered Mount Yoshino, the sacred temples of Sakurai and Kashihara, the ancient capital of Nara, the misunderstood ninja heritage in the domains of Iga Ueno, and to the east, the historic grounds of Ise.