Exploring the Beauty of Komono Town: Scenic Mountains, Fresh Water, and Lush Forests

Today, we set out to explore the beautiful town of Komono, home to one of Mie Prefecture’s most famous landmarks—Mt. Gozaisho, which also happens to be the only place in Mie where you can go skiing. And that’s exactly where we were headed.

The last time Daniel and I visited was back in the winter of 2008, when we took our kids sledding. I was excited to return after so many years.

Written by Isis Akemi Muto

Mt. Gozaisho is also popular with hikers across Japan. It is one of the Suzuka Seven Mountains, and I suspect, the most visited of them all, likely because you can reach the summit either by hiking trails or the Gozaisho Ropeway. That option makes it really easy to reach the 1,212-meter summit.

Mr. Higuchi, a staff member at the Gozaisho Ropeway, introduced us to the wonders of Mt. Gozaisho. After his explanation, it was finally time to board the cable car. As you can see in the picture, my son and I were a little nervous. He has always been afraid of heights, and over the years, I have somehow developed the same fear. But we were both excited to see the amazing views from inside the beautiful red gondola.

During the ride, we quickly forgot our fear and simply admired the scenery, with me snapping countless photos. Although it wasn't peak autumn foliage season when we visited, the mountain views from the ropeway were still stunning.

In some places, the floor is transparent, and you can see the scenery right beneath your feet. It was so captivating that we actually forgot our fear and felt lucky to witness it. After a nearly 15-minute ride, we got to the top, and right at the entrance, was a convenient resting area with some souvenir stands and restaurants waiting for us.

We decided to explore the outside area first, so we went straight to the first observatory, Chouyoudai, where we came across this torii gate. Finding torii gates all over Japan is not a surprise because each town has at least one. However, this one seemed special for being at the top of a mountain, and it definitely added an extra touch of charm to the area.

Quick Snap at This Photo Spot.

At the top of the mountain, we found a couple of easy hiking trails that didn’t require any special gear.

We took just a couple of minutes walking to the east from the first observatory and got to Fujimi-iwa (Fujimi-rock) Observatory. We were greeted with a spectacular view: a clear sky, clouds floating above the city but not blocking the scenery. If anything, they added a beautiful touch.
According to the sign, you can see Mt. Fuji from here on perfectly clear days. Unfortunately, we weren’t that lucky this time.

Still, the view from this spot was just majestic—layers of mountains stretching on both sides and the city spread out in front of us. We were able to see the Pacific Ocean and some buildings in Nagoya in the distance.

A sure sign that winter is just around the corner: the first patches of snow. Soon, the entire mountain will be covered in white. One thing to keep in mind when heading to the summit is that the temperature is usually about five to ten degrees cooler than in the city below.

We had planned to take the ropeway up to the highest point of Mt. Gozaisho, but the wind was too strong, so we decided against it. This peak actually marks the border between Mie and Shiga prefectures, and on a clear day, you can see Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. I would love to see that on my next visit!

With a few minutes to spare before heading back down on the cable car, we stopped by Nature restaurant. Open since 2018, it offers a stunning 180-degree view of the surrounding mountains. While the menu here has plenty of options, their specialty is the Gozaisho curry udon noodles, highly recommended by the locals.

Such a Beautiful View of the Restaurant from Outside

This is the perfect place to relax and warm up in a cozy environment, eating a delicious meal while enjoying the beautiful view.

We didn’t have time for a full meal, but we couldn’t resist their special desserts. My son chose the vanilla White Tower soft serve, while my husband went for the green soft serve made from Komono’s local seasonal vegetable, makomo. We had never eaten makomo before so it was a new experience for us. My husband described it as a subtle mix of vanilla with a hint of matcha, and it was heavenly.

We thanked Mr. Higuchi for guiding us through Mt. Gozaisho. While autumn and winter are undoubtedly the most popular seasons, he mentioned that events are now being held year-round, so no matter when you visit, there’s always something to see or do.

After a quick lunch, we drove about seven minutes to our next destination: Aquaignis, a resort designed to relax the mind and heal the soul. Its name “Aqua” is reflected in the many stunning reflecting pools, giving the resort an almost surreal, flooded art-gallery effect.

Tables and chairs by the pools invite you to unwind, and the calming effect of the water is incredible.

After refreshing ourselves, we met Ms. Urashima, a staff member, who led us to the bakery of top-ranked pastry chef Tsujiguchi Hironobu, Mariage de Farine, meaning “marriage of flour” in French. Using only high-quality Japanese wheat, the bakery produces some of the most delicious bread I’ve ever tasted.

Not only is the bakery absolutely stunning, but it also offers such a wide variety of breads that choosing just one feels like an impossible task. Everything looked so delicious; it’s sure to make your mouth water.

According to Ms. Urashima, popular choices among Japanese customers include croissants and curry bread filled with Matsusaka Beef, one of Japan’s finest. But if you prefer something on the sweeter side, no need to worry, because they have options for every taste, from classic American Apple Pie, to the seasonal German Christmas bread, Stollen.

I opted for chocolate bread and bacon-and-cheese bread. They were both perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and utterly delicious. You can enjoy the bread inside the bakery, outdoors by the reflecting pool, or take it home as well. But whatever you do, just don’t miss this decadent indulgence.

The resort has so much to offer: a day visit, a weekend stay, natural hot springs at Kataoka Onsen, local delicacies, or seasonal activities like strawberry picking.

At this time of the year, people from all over Japan flock to strawberry farms for fun all-you-can-eat sessions, and the strawberries from Aquaignis are quite famous. Ms. Urashima told us they grow around 20 different varieties in their 100-meter-long greenhouse. Imagine my surprise, because I honestly thought there was only one type. They promised that their strawberries would be sweeter and more delectable than anything I could find in stores and guess what? They were! Even before tasting, I was struck by their vibrant red color and impressive size. The juicy, mouth-watering strawberries hanging along the rows were absolutely delicious.

Next, just a three-minute drive from Aquaignis, we arrived at our third destination: Forest Adventure Yunoyama, a tree-top adventure park designed to test balance, agility, and courage. I had been waiting for the perfect moment to bring our son here. He’s now at the ideal age to enjoy the challenges.

There are height and age restrictions for this place. Curious to know how it all works?

Mr. Sasaki greeted us at the reception and gave a quick rundown of the rules. Then we picked out our favorite-colored jumpsuits and grabbed our gloves. I was definitely excited… though maybe my smile was partly to hide the nerves running through me!

With our jumpsuits on, it was time to strap into the climbing harnesses. We watched a safety video explaining how to handle the equipment once we were up in the trees. Afterward, we completed a practical training so Mr. Sasaki could make sure we had understood everything, and we passed with flying colors. Once on the platform, we were responsible for managing our own equipment and safety.

The moment we had all been waiting for had finally arrived, and we climbed up to the first platform. Once there, I kept telling myself, “Don’t look down, don’t look down” but soon realized I had to look down to see where to step next.

Our goal was to reach the next wooden platform, but how exactly would we get there? We had to cross what felt more like a “walkway” than a “bridge.” Some parts of the course had platforms as high as ten to twelve meters. According to Mr. Sasaki, as long as our safety harnesses were securely attached to the cables, there was no risk of falling.

There were so many types of aerial trails. Some were made of ropes, but most of them were crafted from wood. Some were pure fun...

This one in particular felt like the toughest. It demanded far more balance and strength than the others. In that moment, I realized just how important regular physical training is...something I hadn’t done in months.

And then came the one we had all been looking forward to. Well, except my son, who wasn’t quite as thrilled. The zip slide. Stretching 100 meters, it looked a little intimidating, but the experience was exhilarating. It was so fast that there was no time to be scared; I just threw myself into the moment, and screamed the whole way. I think screaming is the perfect way to release all that tension.

Not satisfied with just the “one-person zip slide,” we did “the double zip slide!” Forest Adventure Yunoyama is the only place where you can do a double zip slide through the forest.

We also tried an attraction called the “Tarzan Swing.” It’s basically a free-fall jump, but you’re still attached to a safety cable. You jump, and just a few meters later, the net catches you. It was a trilling experience. Even though the height still made me a bit nervous, after spending two hours up in the trees of this amazing forest, I started feeling more comfortable and less scared. I think the hardest, and probably the scariest part of this activity is the actual jump. But once I leapt, there was no time to be frightened, and just like the zip slide, I lost myself in the moment. When I landed, the funniest thought popped into my head: “So that’s what it feels like to be a soccer ball!”

Nature at its finest! The trees formed a perfect heart shape. Could this be a blessing from the sky?

We had a blast! This was a unique and unforgettable experience.
Forest Adventure Yunoyama is a great place to have fun with your family and friends. Here, you can challenge yourself while testing your agility and balance. Fun is around every corner at Forest Adventure Yunoyama!

This was our second visit to Komono town, and as you can see, this charming countryside town, surrounded by gorgeous mountains, gave us yet another amazing experience. We highly recommend you visit Komono town. You’ll find plenty of activities to do here, most of them set amidst nature.