Kyoto travel information of temples, shrines, museums and more.
Eastern routes : Green tours
Do you know that you can walk around the city of Kyoto through the mountains? The hiking routes are perfect for every generation to exercise and explore Kyoto. Let's get started on a green & healthy tour.
- Green tours >
- Eastern routes >
- No.52 ~ No.74
No.52 ~ No.73
The Third day of the Eastern routes
This route is the rest of the Eastern routes, from the Ginkaku-ji Temple area to Cable Hiei Station. It feels more like mountain climbing than the previous routes. Trekking shoes may be needed because we cross some mountain streams and walk continuously without sightseeing spots. You can be satisfied with your achievement of the Eastern routes!
The sign boards with the numbers lead you to the right way. KYOTO TRAIL GUIDE MAPS will help your safe and efficient trekking. (¥300~¥500)
This route is the rest of the Eastern routes, from the Ginkaku-ji Temple area to Cable Hiei Station.
The sign number is from No.52 to No.73
Kitashirakawa Tenjingu Shrine
Depart from no.52 at the junction of Shirakawa st. and Imadegawa st. and walk through the residential area, until you reach Kitashirakawa Tenjingu Shrine. This shrine is built at the end of the 15th century by the famous shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa. He is the key person for such prosperous aspects of Japanese culture as the noh tradition, the way of tea, shoin style architecture etc.
This is also the "Kyoto Circuit Trail
You walk through the residential area again. It's interesting that this is also a hiking route.
Oyamatsumi Jinja Shrine
Suddenly you encounter the countrified Shinto gate in a rough plantation. This is Oyamatsumi Jinja Shrine, Chiryu Daimyoin Shrine. Discovering some small and unknown temples or shrines is part of the fun of the "Kyoto Circuit Trail".
Continue steadily!
A little rugged and muddy trail continues for a while. GTK recommends you have strong shoes and fellow trekkers! You can find some unique shaped rocks with moss on the way. If you can see the small rustic shrine, you have reached the top of Mt. Uryu (301 altitude). You can choose to continue on the trail route, or get down to Shisendo Temple on no.54-9.
A side trip!
Shisendo Jozan Temple
9:00~17:00 ¥500
Shisendo Temple was founded by Jozan Ishikawa (1583-1672), who was known as a personal attendant of the famous shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and also as a scholar of Chinese classics. This temple used to be the hermitage of Jozan and about 75 years later, the Buddhist priest of Shingon sect assigned to hold the ownership of Shisen-do. It's famous for its garden with some round shaped azalea and the room with 36 paintings of Chinese poets. You can enjoy strolling the garden and a rest after hiking.
Close to Mt. Hiei
Bear up against a long and slightly monotonous trail! You may be worried whether you are going the right way because there is a long space between the signs. A map is definitely needed.
Cedar grove route
After looking over the view of Kitayama mountains and walking toward the final point, you might feel a different atmosphere from the previous routes. It becomes dark because the mountain grove with Japanese cedars surrounds you. Here you have to go up and down on the rugged trails. Don't give up! You will get to the end soon!
Cable Hiei Station
Congratulations! This is the final point of the Eastern route which starts at Fushimi-Inari Station. You can choose to get down the mountain by the cable car, to visit Enryakuji Temple or to continue the hiking to the north.
- No.1 ~ No.9
- No.10 ~ No.19
- No.20 ~ No.30
- No.30 ~ No.52
- No.52 ~ No.73
