Shiso, Mountain city in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Shisō is a municipality in western Hyōgo Prefecture that spreads across mountainous terrain surrounded by forested hills. The settlement is distributed through several valleys where fields, woods and small communities sit tucked into the landscape.
The area once belonged to Harima Province and was known for iron production. Today's municipality formed through the merger of several towns at the beginning of the 21st century.
The name comes from a fragrant herb once grown in the region and used in Japanese cooking. Locals regularly walk the public forest bathing trails for hiking and quiet rest among the trees.
Access is mainly by road connections since no passenger trains serve the municipality. Hiking trails through the forests are most comfortable to walk in spring and autumn when the weather is mild.
One of the forest therapy trails features a small monorail that carries visitors through a pine forest to the top of a mountain. The rail saves the steep climb and offers views of the surrounding slopes during the ride.
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