Akiyamago is a small hamlet in the Nakatsu river valley. Enclosed by the steep mountains and cut off by deep snow, this is an area where traditional forms of living remain unchanged to this day. Renowned as an area where members of the Heike clan fled to in ancient times and also for its matagi winter hunting culture, this region has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 backcountry regions.

The fact that this region still retains its harmony with nature, which has been passed down from generation to generation as a blessing of the region’s ancestors, is why the scenery resembles the fabled story of the Peach Blossom spring. In the spring the region is filled with mountain cherry blossoms and dog-tooth violets, and in autumn is renowned for its golden leaves. In winter the thickly fallen snow serves only to highlight both the severity of the winter months and the austere beauty of the valley.