Soni Highland, Breathtaking View in Nara

The expanse of swaying, shimmering pampas grass at Soni Highland in Soni Village, is one of the rare beauties of Japan.
 
Once a common sight, Japanese pampas grass was traditionally used to thatch homes and buildings. Today, their fields have been replaced with forestry, making Soni Highland’s vast 38-hectare grassland an unusual spectacle. Stretched out at the foot of Mt. Kuruso, the field changes color with the season, from verdant green in late spring and summer to a sea of silvery white from autumn to winter. 
October and November are the best months to visit. With hiking trails through the plateau, visitors can watch pampas grass fronds gleam silver in the daylight and slowly turn golden as the sun sets. 
In mid-March, the field is set aflame to clear the way for new growth, and from May to September, a lush green carpet of fresh grass unfolds across the plain.
 
Take a guided tour of Soni Highland to hear more about the formation of Soni Highland and the region’s folklore tales, and learn how local conservation activities have kept the grassland thriving for generations.