Japan fascinates as much for its contrasts as for its culture. Ultra-modern in its cities, deeply attached to its traditions as soon as you leave them behind. To understand this duality, there is no need to take many detours. Sometimes it is enough to visit the regions that gave birth to the country's identity. In the west of the archipelago, Nara and the Kii Peninsula tell the story of a founding Japan, far from the hustle and bustle. Culture is part of everyday life, slipping into shrines, blending into nature, but also into gestures passed down from generation to generation. An accessible, sensitive Japan that provides essential keys to understanding the country.

Nara, the sacred at street level

The former capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is often presented as a historical site.

In Nara Park, deer roam freely. They cross the paths, approach visitors and blend naturally into the landscape. Their presence is not anecdotal, as they have been considered messengers of the gods for centuries.

The relationship with the sacred is customary in Japan. It is important to understand that it is not necessary to choose a single religion; one is born Shinto, often lives as a Buddhist, and borrows, throughout life, what makes sense in each.

A few steps away, Tōdai-ji houses one of the country's most powerful symbols, the Great Buddha. Monumental, certainly, but never overwhelming, as life continues around it. Families stroll, monks pass by, visitors take the time to look. In Nara, great religious monuments coexist naturally with everyday life.

Further away, the lanterns of Kasuga Taisha, hidden in the forest, offer a new perspective on Japan. Kasuga Taisha is a Shinto shrine founded in the 8th century, when Nara was the capital of Japan. It was intended to protect the city and the imperial court.

Surrounded by an untouched sacred forest, it is recognisable by its hundreds of lanterns, donated over the centuries by worshippers.

Kii, the most natural face of an ancient land

Leaving Nara and heading south, the scenery changes rapidly. Urban areas become more sparse, the roads become more winding and the forest gradually gains ground. The Kii Peninsula is distinguished by its mountainous terrain, deep valleys and coastline opening onto the Pacific Ocean. The region is also one of the most unspoilt landscapes in western Japan.

Long difficult to access, the Kii Peninsula has preserved its unspoilt natural environment. The shrines and temples are built with traditional materials and blend in with their natural surroundings.

It is this harmony between nature, slow life, and silence that gives the Kii Peninsula a special place in Japanese culture. It is a region where religious and cultural practices have been passed down without interruption.

Three stops in sacred lands

Among the major sites on the peninsula, three places offer insight into different facets of Japanese culture.

In Nara, several iconic monuments, including Tōdai-ji and Kasuga Taisha, are also listed by UNESCO as ‘Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara’.

Mount Kōya is one of the great centres of Japanese Buddhism. Far from any ostentation, its temples are scattered throughout the forest.

To the east, the Grand Shrine of Ise embodies a unique tradition: its identical reconstruction every twenty years. This ritual reflects a very Japanese idea of heritage, based on renewal rather than static conservation.

Further south, Kumano Nachi Taisha is closely linked to the surrounding nature. Its famous waterfall, integrated into the shrine, reminds us how much the landscape is an integral part of Japanese culture and identity.

According to ancient legend, the great Nachi waterfall was the first place where the deities of Kumano descended to earth. Long before the shrine was built, the waterfall itself was revered as a divine presence.

One country, three religions, one daily practice

In Japan, the coexistence of religions can be explained primarily by history and custom. The oldest, Shinto, is linked to the origins. It accompanies birth, protects places and celebrates the cycles of nature.

Buddhism, introduced in the 6th century from China and Korea, gradually established itself around funeral rites, ancestor worship and family memory. Rather than replacing existing beliefs, it was added to them.

In practical terms, this translates into a whole way of organising daily life. The Japanese celebrate the birth of a child in a Shinto shrine, then go to the temple to honour the dead during the Obon festival (the festival of ancestors) and take part in major seasonal celebrations without strict religious distinctions.

This division of roles is based on moments in life rather than exclusive faith, allowing traditions to coexist harmoniously. The divine is never imposed, but present, integrated, almost natural.

This type of travel invites you to slow down and, what's more, to look at things differently. By focusing on places steeped in history and rituals, it offers a more cultural, more peaceful approach, where we understand through this epic that time and balance are an integral part of the art of living.

The practical guide to Nara:

• Where to stay? Nara Hotel
• Where to eat? Villa Communico
• Where to relax? Ume Yamazoe

Translated by Bethszabee Garner