In Nara Prefecture's mountainous areas, dragon myths persist, with some locals believing dragons still exist. Unlike Western dragons, Japanese ryū focus on water quality, rain, drought, spirituality, and purity. Temples and shrines feature dragon carvings and paintings as symbols of water.
Japanese dragons do not breathe fire or hoard gold. Instead, they are associated with water quality, rain, drought, spirituality, and purity. Folktales and oral traditions indicate that ryū live in caves or underwater.
At Shinto shrines, water from temizuya—pavilions for ritual purification—often flows from the mouths of dragon sculptures. Countless Buddhist temples feature dragon carvings and paintings, notably Tenryu Temple in Kyoto's Arashiyama neighborhood, where an expansive unryū (cloud dragon) illustration covers the ceiling of its teaching hall.
Away from the refined art of the ancient capital, in the mountainous regions of Nara Prefecture, some locals claim dragons actually exist. These myths, spanning two rural prefectures, offer a unique way to explore the Japanese countryside, including a cave said to host dragons. This blends traditional beliefs with modern travel experiences.