Want an authentic, sustainable travel experience in Japan? Our reporter Anca Ulea explores two Japanese towns where the environment has defined the way of life for generations
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00:00 (dramatic music)
00:02 It's red leaf season in Japan,
00:05 and the landscape is ablaze
00:06 with the most beautiful autumn colors.
00:09 This time of year is popular with tourists,
00:10 but I won't be joining the crowds in the usual places.
00:13 I'm heading to lesser known corners of Japan
00:15 to see how different communities
00:17 are living sustainably with nature.
00:18 In the Nagara River Basin, life flows gently.
00:27 For generations, locals in the central region of Japan
00:30 have been living by the principle of Satoyama,
00:33 or harmony with nature.
00:34 The river takes care of them,
00:37 sustaining life and livelihood,
00:39 and they take care of it in return.
00:41 One of the most striking examples of Satoyama
00:57 is Gifu's fishing tradition.
00:58 Each season, fishing methods are adapted
01:01 to the ayu sweetfish's mating patterns.
01:04 Most ayu caught in autumn are sent to hatcheries upriver
01:07 to maintain the population the following year.
01:25 The remaining fish are sold to local restaurants
01:28 and shared with friends and family.
01:30 The Nagara River sustains this region in more ways than one.
01:41 Its crystal clear waters irrigate crops
01:43 like rice and vegetables,
01:45 making them particularly flavorful.
01:47 An abundance in medicinal herbs has also given rise
01:52 to the region's yakuzen, or medicinal cuisine.
01:55 (gentle music)
01:57 The variety of dishes was astounding.
02:22 From what the chef called skin beauty hot pot
02:24 to the region's famous hida beef,
02:27 which is among Japan's finest.
02:29 My next stop is Kinosaki Onsen.
02:38 A two and a half hour drive from Kyoto,
02:41 the town of seven mystic hot springs, or onsen,
02:44 is steeped in legend.
02:46 It's believed the natural hot springs
02:48 are a gift from the heavens, with the power to heal.
02:51 (speaking in foreign language)
02:55 Spirituality still surrounds the onsen.
03:05 Before taking a dip, I give thanks
03:07 at the Buddhist temple on the hilltop.
03:09 Others do the same at the Shinto shrine in town.
03:18 I want to get the full ryokan experience,
03:21 so I'm heading to Yamamoto-e Inn.
03:23 It's been operating for 350 years.
03:29 The inn is run by the Takamiya couple.
03:32 Historically, women have been in charge
03:33 of daily operations, one of the oldest leadership roles
03:37 they've held in Japan.
03:38 (speaking in foreign language)
03:42, (gentle music)
04:10 Strolling around in this yukata
04:11 with everyone else dressed the same
04:13 makes me feel like I'm in some sort of fairy tale.
04:15 In Japanese, it's called (speaking in foreign language)
04:18 which means walking at a leisurely pace
04:20 with no particular destination in mind.
04:22 The journey is the destination.
04:24 (speaking in foreign language)
04:27 But the onsen is the real treat.
04:29 The traditional ryokan experience consists of three baths,
04:33 one before dinner, one after dinner,
04:35 and one in the morning before departing.
04:37 Here, you're really forced to slow down
04:39 and take care of your body and your mind.
04:41 If I've learned anything from locals in Kinosaki and Gifu,
04:49 is that it's a gift to be able to slow down
04:52 and just enjoy the natural beauty.
04:54 (gentle music)
04:56 (upbeat music)