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Listening to the birds, breakfasting with the falcons...
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Our hotel is perched on the banks of the Itajiki -gawa river, nestled in a quiet valley among the beautiful green mountains of Horai-kyo. A wide variety of wild birds calls the area home, including several nesting pairs of Great Blue Herons which frequently wade in the river in search of a meal of fresh fish. The singing of songbirds, the cry of falcons, the call of waterfowl, and the bubbling of the river make up the usual soundtrack to a day at our hotel. And for a visual treat of nature up-close, you can watch as we feed a flock of up to 100 wild hawks from our veranda, each morning from 8:40.
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Momiji in Horai-kyo -- viewing the splendor of autumn colors
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Mount Horaiji is famous for the spectacular color display of its changing leaves every November. The Horaiji momiji is quite different from the famous reds of Northern Japan, as the Horaiji display features a wide-ranging palate of greens, yellows, and reds. The Momiji Festival is held every November 23rd, a national holiday, and is the highlight of the autumn season. The peak of Mount Horaiji is 5km from Yuya Onsen-a pleasant 10-15 minute drive up the winding Horaiji-san Parkway. Or, if some hearty exercise is in your plans, the glorious view from the mountain top will be your reward for clearly-marked woodlands hike of 21/2-3 hours.
Further exploration of the natural environment can be found in the large expanses of the Aichi Prefectural Forest. Here is more spectacular hiking, beautiful rivers, some open spaces perfect for kids to run and play, designated areas for campfires, and some pleasant doubletrack for mountain bikes. The entrance to the park is only a 5-minutes drive from our hotel, or a 30-40 minute walk.
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