Iga

Hi,

I'm considering visiting Iga soon, and also, perhaps, Nabari. I don't have any particular interest in the region, but it's part of Kansai, and I'd like to see what's there. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or advice on places to visit, and how to best spend a day in the area.

I have little interest in ninjas, and think I'll give the ninja museum a miss - does that seem fair enough? I'd certainly like to visit Iga's castle, but what else around town is worth a visit?

How about Nabari? Has anyone been there? Is there anything of interest in the town? And finally, are there are any temples/scenic spots/nice villages/anything in countryside around Iga? I feel like a need an excuse in the region to hike somewhere for a few kilometers, and see something of the valleys.

Thanks!

Been to Iga twice. It's also the birth place of the haiku poet Basho. Been to both the castle and the Ninja museum. The castle walls are impressive but the keep is just another concrete reconstruction. The Ninja museum is quite good and has a great collection of weapons and instruments. The museum is more about fact than the myth.
There is supposed to ensure a really good Waterfall near Iga but I haven't been, and can't remember the name. Have seen photos and it looks nice. Does seem to be some nice walks around Iga.

I know very little about Basho, but I'm happy enough to learn.

I'm not sure the facts of ninjas interest me all that much either... Anyway, I'll have to see I guess. Waterfalls were a good hint! I've found this place in Nabari. Not only are there some waterfalls, but also a giant salamander center! I might try and spend a morning in Iga, and then an afternoon visiting that area.

The waterfall and salamander center were so-so. There are lots of salamanders there - including some very large ones - but they live in rather small aquariums, and it's a little depressing. One has a story about being rescued as an egg after its parents had abandoned it, but I'm not sure where the other salamanders come from.

The waterfalls were okay, nothing spectacular, though it's a nice enough walk, and you can see the way the stream has eaten out the rock over the eons.

Iga-Ueno was cool, I enjoyed it. Lots of Basho. A few quick notes:

1. The castle isn't a concrete reconstruction, but rather a wooden reconstruction from the 1930's. It's sort of interesting as an antique, pre-war reconstruction. There's little of interest inside (the one famous artifact - a helmet with a storied Sengoku Era history - wasn't on display), but nice views from the top.
2. Unsurprisingly, the "Basho birth house" isn't the actual house where Basho was born. It's a 19th century house on the location of Basho's family home.
3. The weird building with a "hat" that you see in tourist photos of Iga is fabulous. Though dating from 1942, it's built from wood in a traditional style. The subversion of religious iconography (the building is modeled on a tahoto, with Basho as both object of worship and inspiration for the building itself) seems to be a common theme in Basho adoration.
4. Basho's handwriting was terrible.... ;-)

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