Miyataki｜Scenic Yoshino River Views Loved by Emperors

Miyataki is located several kilometers upstream on the Yoshino River from the entrance to Mount Yoshino. Here, the wide Yoshino River suddenly narrows, with massive and uniquely shaped rocks pressing in from both sides, making it known as a scenic spot since ancient times.
Emperor Tenmu and Empress Jito built the Yoshino Detached Palace here and frequently visited the area after crossing the pass from Asuka.”

Just upstream from “Yume no Wada” is the narrowest point of the Yoshino River. Steep rocks stand tall on both sides.
In the past, a bridge made of logs was built here for people to cross the river, while ferries were used at other locations due to the wide river width.
In this area, there are rocks known as ‘Hyakumon Rock’ and ‘Nihyakumon Rock.’
It is said that when travelers arrived, villagers would leap from the rocks and receive rewards of 100 or 200 mon in money for their acrobatic feats.

It is said that the river used to be even narrower, making it the most difficult spot for the rafters.
For this reason, the rocks were cut away, slightly widening the river to its current width.

Just above “Yume no Wada,” where the Kisa-no-Ogawa flows into the Yoshino River, is the site of the “Yoshitsune Utatane Bridge.”
It is said that Yoshitsune, while fleeing from his brother Yoritomo’s forces, took a brief nap here during his escape from Mount Yoshino.
The bridge is said to have had a roofed structure.

The shrine has a bridge, and it’s possible that the ‘Yoshitsune Utatane Bridge’ was built in a similar style.

It is a large sacred cedar tree.

This is the Kisa-no-Ogawa, the small stream that flows in front of Sakuragi Shrine.

In front of Sakuragi Shrine stands a monument with the inscription, “A tiger, enhanced with wings, has been released into the wild.”

Emperor Tenji, who was ill, summoned his younger brother, Prince Oamano (later Emperor Tenmu), to his bedside and urged him to succeed to the throne.
At that time, Emperor Tenji intended to have Prince Oamano killed if he accepted the offer to succeed him.
However, Prince Oamano declined the offer, chose to become a monk, and headed to Yoshino.

It is said that one of Emperor Tenji’s close aides remarked, “A tiger, enhanced with wings, has been released into the wild” at this point.
Later, the Jinshin War (672), the largest war of ancient times, began, and Prince Oamano became Emperor Tenmu after winning the War.

As I walked along the Kisa-no-Ogawa, the mountains of Yoshino came into view.

As I entered the mountain path, Takataki Falls soon came into view. Due to the heavy rain the previous day, the falls were powerful.

I continued ascending further.

I crossed these steppingstones.

This is the junction for the upper Senbon, middle Senbon, and Nyoirin-ji Temple on Mount Yoshino.

I emerged at a point where I could look down on the middle Senbon. The temple visible in the center is Zao-do.

Through the trees, I found wild deer.