From Tennoji in Osaka, I made my way to JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station, a 20-minute walk to the trailhead. (Link to station here). Along the way, I passed a popular attraction in the area: the Anouzumi stone walls. Built by stone wall masons known as 'anoushu', these walls showcase their skillful technique of stacking unprocessed stones, creating a remarkably sturdy structure that has survived the devastating Siege of Mount Hiei in 1571. (More about these these stone walls on Google Arts & Culture)
Travel Note : It's only a 9-min walk if coming from Sakamoto-hieizanguchi station on the Keihan line. Google map link here)
I saw a group of tourists happily savoring ice cream near a temple. I had to have some too! Across the street, I found a restaurant selling interesting flavors. Eager to try something new, I opted for chestnut ice cream. Its sweet and nutty flavor was a perfect pre-hike indulgence. By the time I reached the Tori gate at Hiyoshi Taisha at noon, I felt energized and ready to take on the steep flight of stairs that awaited me.
Passing the stairs, I was immediately rewarded with a view of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. However, this vantage is a little too far off, and you need to look behind you to see it. (Travel Note : There's a view deck near the summit that offers an even more luxurious view)
A view of Lake Biwa from Shiga side. |
Soon, I was surrounded by towering Cedar trees. A disconcerting sign of bear sightings made me walk quickly. LOL. I only stopped a few times to catch my breath and drink water. The trail was quiet, with only a few hikers heading in the opposite direction. After 1.5 hours, I finally reached Enryaku-ji Temple, a major attraction in the area. While the temple grounds were serene and beautiful, the crowd felt overwhelming. I continued making my way to the summit, 30-minutes away.
The summit itself was hidden, obscured by the trees just off the main trail. As I walked out of the forest, I was met with a breathtaking view of Lake Biwa. Though the viewpoint was crowded with other visitors, I managed to find a quiet spot to enjoy the scenery before freshening up for the bus ride back to Kyoto train station. (Travel Note : The bus stop is just a few meters from the viewpoint. Bus #2 takes you back to Kyoto station. I used Google map to check for the bus schedules.)
From Kyoto station, I hopped on a train to nearby Uji, eager to enjoy the city's renowned matcha treats - a well-deserved reward after a long travel and hiking day!
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