IMAGES: ALAMY; KANSAI TOURISM BUREAU; OSAKA CONVENTION & TOURISM BUREAU


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PAID CONTENT FOR KANSAI TOURI SM BUREAU


An ama diver preparing shellfish in Mie Prefecture


Left: Katsuoji temple during autumn in Minoh, Osaka Right: Daruma dolls


representing good fortune


M


odern Japan wouldn’t be what it is today without the inf luence and input of the region of Kansai


— and its cities Osaka and Kyoto — which have signficantly inf luenced the country’s political, cultural and economic development. Kyoto served as Japan’s capital for over a millennium and is today known as the nation’s cultural epicentre, attracting millions of travellers to the city’s streets each year. Beyond Kyoto, visitors will see there is a


profound respect for tradition throughout the region found in the theatre, religion, art and cuisine. From classical masked Noh performances to ancient Shinto shrines believed to be the home of local kami (spirits or deities) to traditional kaiseki banquets — there are myriad experiences and the region reveals new depths with every visit.


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M I E P RE F E C TU RE DINE WITH AMA DIVERS


Stretching along the rural southeastern coast of Kansai, Mie Prefecture is perfect for an extended trip by road or rail. Most intriguing, however, are the ama divers of the region. Meaning ‘women of the sea’, ama were once common across Japan, but as of 2023, Mie boasts the largest number of active ama today, with an impressive 514 located here out of a national total of 1,220. The ama women free-dive to the sea floor


using just their bodies and simple tools to source seafood including precious abalone (a unique marine snail). To protect the ocean’s resources, the divers are careful, ensuring they only catch what they need. Visitors are able to dine with the divers


at Satoumian’s ama hut experience. Here, groups gather in a replica of an original ama hut and listen to tales from the divers.


The Katsuoji temple lies only 15 miles from the mega-city of Osaka — but in another sense, it’s a universe away. The magnificent grounds are surrounded by serene forests and offer impressive views for each of the four seasons. Since 727 CE, Katsuoji has been associated with its ‘victor’s luck’, after a sick emperor is said to have prayed here and seen his health miraculously restored. The emperor went on to name the temple ‘Katsuoji’, with the initial meaning of ‘victorious king temple’. Today, the tradition continues, evident


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in its resident population of daruma dolls — small red figures of various sizes that act as wish-fulfilling lucky charms. Visitors travelling to the temple write on the bottom of the daruma dolls what victory they would like in their own lives and pray for them.


THIS IS PAID CONTENT. IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK) OR THEIR EDITORIAL STAFFS.


O S A K A P RE F E C TU RE EXPLORE ANCIENT TEMPLES


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