Soni Highland

"The Soni Highlands in Uda County, Nara Prefecture, are known for Okame Pond. The highlands extend out from the western foothills of Mt. Kameyama, so called because it resembles the back of a turtle (""kame"" in Japanese) when viewed from 1038-meter Mt. Kuroso (one of the Japan's 300 famous mountains). Chinese silvergrass grows throughout the highlands, and every year in mid March, the hills are subjected to controlled burning, so that visitors can enjoy the fresh greenery on the hills in the summer. At Okame Pond, which features in a famous legend, visitors can see rare plants that grow only in wetlands. One of the best hiking routes in the Kansai region for families (the Kogen Daisuki Course or ""I Love the Highlands Route"") is located here, and hikers can see the National Natural Monuments, Yoroi Dake (""Armor Peak""), Kabuto Dake (""Helmet Peak""), and Byobu Iwa (""Screen Rock"")."