Kawachinagano

Kawachinagano City lies in the Minamikawachi region of Osaka Prefecture and borders Nara and Wakayama Prefectures, featuring expansive natural landscapes. With an area of 109.61 km², it is the third-largest municipality in Osaka Prefecture. About 70% of the city’s area is forest, and many people visit its dams and temples during the autumn foliage season. The area prospered as a hot-spring resort in the Edo period, but after the war it developed into a commuter town for Osaka. The city contains numerous historical and cultural assets from the medieval period onward, including 6 National Treasures and 77 Important Cultural Properties. In particular, Kanshinji Temple—opened in 701 by En no Ozunu, founder of Shugendo—enshrines one of Japan’s Three Great Nyoirin Kannon statues, the seated Nyoirin Kannon. Many worshippers visit during its special public viewing held each year on April 17 and 18. The “Oku-Kawachi” area also offers full-fledged outdoor experiences, including barbecue sites with waterfalls and Mt. Iwayu, selected among Japan’s New 100 Famous Mountains. In addition, the region’s fertile soil and mild inland climate make it suitable for fruit cultivation, and it is known as one of Osaka Prefecture’s leading producers of fruits such as peaches and pears.