Said to be Japan’s oldest road, the Yamanobe-no-michi (literally ‘path beside the mountains’) is a trail skirting the hills along the eastern edge of the Nara plain. Within easy reach of Nara or Kyoto, the trail leads through small farming communities, agricultural land where rice, vegetables and strawberries are grown, past temples, and ancient burial mounds.
Historically, the large plain where Nara is situated, is very significant, being the site of the first of Japan’s permanent capitals such as Asuka and Nara itself.
Many of the sites along the Yamamobe-no-michi are associated with
the kojiki, 古事記, “Record of Ancient Matters”, which cover the events (or myths) of the founding of Japan. Written down in the 8th century, the kojiki form the basis for much of the native Shinto religion and are connected with the Imperial Family.
