Japons lies on the high granite plateau of the Waldviertel, the forest quarter of Lower Austria, north-west of Vienna, a land of rolling hills, fields, forests and scattered villages, where the climate is harsher and the pace slower than in the Danube valley below. The village is small and quiet, with a church and farms, and the surrounding landscape is open and airy, with long views over the plateau.
The Waldviertel is known for its castles, monasteries and quiet roads. A short ride east lies Horn, a pleasant market town, and beyond it the baroque Altenburg Abbey, with a magnificent library and frescoes. The Rosenburg, a Renaissance castle on a rock above the Kamp valley, hosts falconry displays in its tournament courtyard. The Kamp itself winds through a deep, wooded valley with reservoirs, a lovely ride with curves and views.
As for the riding, it is excellent. The roads roll over the plateau and plunge into the valleys, with gentle curves, good surfaces and very little traffic. The landscape changes constantly, from open fields to dense forests and rocky valleys. The weather can be cooler and windier than in Vienna, and in winter, snow is common. In spring and autumn, fog can sit in the valleys.
The nearest dependable fuel and food are in Horn, which has everything you need; Japons is a place to look, not to shop. The Waldviertel is known for its potatoes, poppy seeds and carp, and local inns serve hearty dishes such as roast pork with dumplings, Waldviertel style. Hohe Wand and Puchberg lie far to the south, beyond the Danube and Vienna.