1 Day Hiking Tour in the Mountains of Kyoto

based on 44 reviews

Duration:8 hours (approx.)
Location: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

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Upon ascending Mt. Kuruma, you will find a wealth of magical temples, relaxing onsens and hiking paths through lush green cedar forests. Mt. Kurama is a very historical area, known for being the birthplace of reiki (a healing technique) and home to the tengu, Japanese folklore creatures said to be the protectors of the natural world. You will leisurely walk from Kurama to the quaint mountain village of Kibune, stopping to see various sights along the way. It is the perfect trip for those wishing to get out of the city and enjoy some easy hiking in the nature.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
Yuki Shrine was actually built in central Kyoto, but in 940 AD was moved to Kurama to protect the area from mysterious evil. One of the highlights of this mountainous shrine is an 800-year-old cedar tree which towers over the shrine at 53m tall.
2.
The mountain is known as the birthplace of the holistic healing art called Reiki. In the early 1900s, the founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui, meditated for 21 days on this mountain and received the Reiki healing energy. Mikao Usui meditated near the top of the mountain at a site called Osugi Gongen, at the site of a great sacred tree said to be an incarnation of the god Maoson. Once you reached the mountain, you can sense positive chi surrounding you. As you stepped in the front door of the temple, you feel so comfortable spiritually and energetic physically. Somehow, you can link your spirit with the mountain, to soil beneath and the sky above you. It’s an excellent meditation experience just by walking around the mountain, maze of focus roots and the trees.
3.
After exploring Yuki Shrine, you will meander though the forest on a pleasant 25 minute walk to the most famous shrine of the area – Kuramadera. Founded in the 8th century, Kuramadera is dedicated to the worship of mountains and nature, and has an incredible view over the surrounding mountain ranges, especially in Autumn. See how many long-nosed tengu (guardians of the mountain) you can spot.
4.
Nestled deep in the mountains is the Okunoin Maoden Temple. It is said to be where demons reign and has a very mysterious feeling about it.
5.
Kifune Shrine is considered a place for sailors to go to pray for luck on their voyages and is dedicated to the God of water and rain. There are places where you can drink the pure mountain water fresh from the source, and many little streams dotted around the shrine. If you come in summer, expect to be charmed by the wildflowers, but it is no less stunning shrouded in autumn colours, or pure white snow. Be sure to try the mizuura mikuji (water fortune telling paper) which your guide can translate for you.
6.
According to legend, a goddess traveled in a boat from Osaka all the way up the river into these mountains. This inner shrine of Kifune houses the boat it is said that she rode in.

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Posted By : Clint
Beautiful forest hike with many temples, shrines and scenic overlooks. Be ready for a lot of stairs, but there are frequent stops along the way so it’s completely doable. The small mountain town and lunch at the end is rewarding. Our guide Miyo was very patient, pleasant and knowledgeable.
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Posted On : 2024-06-12 04:25:23

Posted By : JOSE RODOLFO G
Excellent guide, very patient and kind in his explanations, very professional. He gave us a very complete guide and very good explanations.
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Posted On : 2024-06-02 07:33:24

Posted By : Daniel_L
This hike is not very long but does involve a great deal of steps up and down and some uneven surfaces. It is an immersive, beautiful green wooded area with the spiritual resonance of the shrines. Our guide Akira was wonderful, highly knowledgeable, very helpful with a warm desire to share her deep love of this environment and its history. She really helped make it a special experience.
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Posted On : 2024-05-25 22:04:29

Posted By : Safari10570012974
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. The mountains of Kyoto were beautiful even in rainy weather. My guide Mizuho was knowledgeable and fun to talk with. Whether you’re a hiker or not this is a can’t miss tour.
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Posted On : 2024-05-23 17:53:27

Posted By : kmamatak2024
Had a fantastic day visiting mystical shrines and sacred temples in the forests of the beautiful mountains near Kyoto.

We had Mizuho as our guide and felt so taken care of by her gentle presence, the just right pace that she kept for our walking tour and her informative and inspiring insights on the shrines we were visiting and Japanese culture and traditions.

Lunch was an experience in itself - a delicious kaiseki meal on a beautiful restaurant over a river with Mizuho patiently answering my endless questions about ingredients and preparation.

We were traveling with our teenage son and he loved meeting Mizuho and sharing his hobbies with her as well. Thank you Mizuho and OMAKASE for a most memorable day for every member of our family! Would highly recommend this tour if you like nature, gentle walking, water, secret shrines and quiet companionship.
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Posted On : 2024-05-11 06:22:05

Posted By : O9285YSleslies
The tour was everything I envisioned and complimented by a great host/guide. Yuki-san was really attentive to my needs and ensured that the tour provided great historic detail of the sites we visited, but also kept a good pace in the mountains which was appreciated. Highly reccomended and Yuki was a wonderful guide,
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Posted On : 2024-05-03 00:00:49

Posted By : Adam_T
We had an amazing day hiking in the Kumara mountain. Our guide Miki was fantastic and made the day an extremely memorable experience. Her knowledge, passion and style was perfect throughout the day. The train ride to the start of the trek was amazing, and the temples and shrines on the walk were breathtaking. We have many wonderful memories from the day and spending the day with Miki was a real privilege. We highly recommend this trip.
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Posted On : 2024-05-01 01:56:01

Posted By : Rina_B
Akari , was a wonderful guide , in very good English she introduced us into Japan s culture , religion , history , food , and lifestyle that we could enjoy our stay in Japan She shared attractions , and we had a wonderful moutain walk with blossoms amd shrines, with lunch in a picturesque valley wit a small stream
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Posted On : 2024-04-24 02:29:33

Posted By : drblomerus
We had a wonderful day with Akari in the mountains of Kyoto. She gave us Japan background that assisted us in our total 14 day holiday. History, religion,food ,sights, travel tips , help with transport. She was so well prepared to cross our lack of knowledge, with nice diagrams. I enjoyed the age old folk story she told us , demonstrated with a childrens illustrated book.
We thank you Akari for enriching our lives.
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Posted On : 2024-04-23 09:09:30

Posted By : Russell_T
We are 70 plus year old’s and thought, can we do this? At the end of the hike, we realized our guide Mizuho was so interesting in presenting the history of the site that we felt it was more like a stroll than 2 hours on a stairmaster. The walk was a combination nature walk, history lesson and zen like experience. Hopefully, if you are visiting the area, you have a chance to walk up this amazing shrine and experience this for yourself.

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Posted On : 2024-04-20 20:29:38