I climbed Mt.Daimonji in Higashiyama, which I always only looked up at. Every year on August 16, the day of the Gozan Okuribi (Bonfire of the Five Mountains), a large character appears halfway up Mt. Daimonji.This time, I climbed the mountain to see the view from this character in the middle of the mountain.
Walking north from Ginkaku-ji Temple, you will come to Hachi-jinja Shrine. The trailhead is on the slope to the right of the shrine. Walking gently up the slope, you will soon see a small bridge ahead. After crossing it, the slope becomes steeper and steeper. After 30 minutes of walking, some out of breath, the view in front of you widens.
Below you can see Mt. Yoshida, the Tadasunomori forest of Shimogamo-jinja Shrine, the Kyoto Gosho (Kyoto Imperial Palace), and Narabigaoka hill in the distance. To the left, the vermilion-lacquered Ootorii (Grand Gate) of Heian-jingu Shrine and Kyoto Tower can be seen.
It takes about 20 minutes from the middle of the mountain to the 466-meter summit of Mt.Daimonji. From the fire floor to the summit, you will climb up the slope of the mountain, which is well maintained but not easy to climb up.
From the top, you can look down on the Yamashina and Osaka areas. If you want to enjoy the view, it is enough to go as far as the fire floor on the way to the top, where you can see the whole city of Kyoto.
Heels and sandals are strictly prohibited when climbing. It takes about 2 hours from Ginkaku-ji Temple to the top and back. The mountain is low but the climbing is hard.
Attention !
According to yesterday’s newspaper The Kyoto Shimbun, many people who climb Mt. Daimonji are reportedly in distress. Although it is only a 460-meter mountain, many people get lost on the darkened path, slip and fall, or injure their feet. The reasons for this are as follows.
Indeed, even if you climb up from the back of Ginkakuji Temple, the path becomes steep from the mid-hill fire floor (about 330 meters above sea level, the place with the best view) to the top of the mountain. The path is well-maintained from Hachi-jinja shrine to the mid-hill fire floor, so if you have no mountaineering experience, it is better to make it to this fire floor. Of course, you cannot climb up to the fire floor wearing high heels or slippers, so please be careful. <Jan.7.2025>
Comment