⛩️ Nara · 1–2 days
Yoshino & Totsukawa Drive: Cedar Mountains, a Suspension Bridge & Kumano Kodō
Deep into Nara's southern mountains — the cedar country of Yoshino and Kawakami, the villages of Kurotaki and Ōtō, and Totsukawa with its great suspension bridge, hot springs and the Kumano Kodō pilgrimage. 4 michi-no-eki.
South of the Yoshino cherry mountains, Nara turns into one of the wildest, most sparsely populated corners of western Japan: steep cedar forests, blue river gorges and mountain villages linked by a single winding road that is part of the Kumano Kodō pilgrimage, now on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The drive climbs from Kawakami — Yoshino cedar and the Ōtaki dam — through Kurotaki and Ōtō deeper into the range to Totsukawa, Japan's largest village by area, with the Tanize suspension bridge, the Totsukawa hot springs and the Kohechi route of the Kumano Kodō.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Sugi No Yu Kawakami 道の駅 杉の湯 川上 · Nara
Michi-no-Eki Sugi No Yu Kawakami (道の駅 杉の湯 川上) is a government-designated roadside station in 吉野郡川上村, Nara, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and lodging. There is free parking for about 50 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Yoshino Michi Kurotaki, Uda Michi Oouda and Yoshino Michi Ooyodo I Sentaa.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Shisun-iwa (4.5 km) · ⛰Aonegamine (6.2 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Yoshino Michi Kurotaki 道の駅 吉野路 黒滝 · Nara
Michi-no-Eki Yoshino Michi Kurotaki (道の駅 吉野路 黒滝) is a government-designated roadside station in 吉野郡黒滝村, Nara, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 46 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–16:30. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Yoshino Michi Ooyodo I Sentaa, Sugi No Yu Kawakami and Yoshino Michi Ootou.
Nearby: ⛰Mount Ogigata (3.8 km) · ⛰Hitsugatake (3.9 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Yoshino Michi Ootou 道の駅 吉野路 大塔 · Nara
Michi-no-Eki Yoshino Michi Ootou (道の駅 吉野路 大塔) is a government-designated roadside station in 五條市, Nara, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 23 cars. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:15. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Yoshino Michi Kurotaki, Kaki No Sato Kudoyama and Yoshino Michi Ooyodo I Sentaa.
Nearby: ⛰Mouunt Togasa (3.4 km) · ⛰Bojo-mine (7.6 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Totsugawa Sato 道の駅 十津川郷 · Nara
Michi-no-Eki Totsugawa Sato (道の駅 十津川郷) is a government-designated roadside station in 吉野郡十津川村, Nara, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 21 cars and 2 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Oku Kumano Kodou Honguu, Okutoro and Kumano ・ Itaya Kurobee No Sato.
Nearby: ♨Takinoyu (0.3 km) · ⛰Mount Gyosen (2.7 km)
Make this route yours — load all 4 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- The Tanize suspension bridge (Totsukawa) is one of Japan's longest wire footbridges — 297 m over the gorge.
- Totsukawa Onsen is a free-flowing natural hot spring, and the village makes a good overnight base.
- Yoshino's famous cherry blossom, a short detour north, peaks in early April.
- These are steep mountain roads — allow more time than the distance suggests.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Yoshino & Totsukawa
How many days do you need for the Yoshino & Totsukawa route?
1–2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 60 km of driving with 4 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Kawakami (Yoshino) and ends at Totsukawa. Load all 4 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round (Yoshino cherry blossom early April, fresh green & gorges in summer).
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →