the place called Kurama

One hour north of Kyoto City, taking the Eizan Railway up the Kurama River, you will find yourself in a valley surrounded by cedar trees. With Mt. Kurama (569 meters above sea level) at its back, houses line the narrow flatland along the river. This is Kurama.

Cedar Mountains

The settlement is surrounded by towering cedar forests. The valley is deep, with only a narrow strip of sky visible above.

In the mountains, there are places where cedar roots spread out, crawling across the ground. Roots that couldn't fully penetrate the soil cover the ground like a net.

The chopsticks and tumblers made by Kurama Kobo also use pruned cedar and cypress timber from the Kurama area.

Water

The Kurama River flows at the bottom of the valley. Wherever you walk in town, you can hear the sound of water.

Kurama is also where the Japanese tree frog (Moriyamao frog) was first discovered in Japan. This frog lays white, frothy eggs on branches overhanging the water.

Four Seasons

From late spring to early summer, the deep green of the cedars is interspersed with the fresh green of broadleaf trees. In autumn, the valley turns vibrant colors, and in winter, snow accumulates.

There are many plants and animals named after Kurama, such as Kurama clubmoss and Kurama moth.