媛 means 'beautiful woman'

All four kanji pop up in prefecture names, so these essays take us through four prefectures with scenic mountains, castles, connections to famous writers, and charming old architecture. Find out which city is known as Little Edo for its historic buildings and its traditional-looking warehouses, and see which location is known as Little Kyoto because it has retained its original appearance. Learn where traditional A-frame-like houses dominate the landscape, and discover a cultural theme park that re-creates the Edo era.