{"id":15293,"date":"2017-07-04T12:26:55","date_gmt":"2017-07-04T11:26:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=15293"},"modified":"2018-05-01T09:35:33","modified_gmt":"2018-05-01T08:35:33","slug":"hike-mount-hiei-kyoto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/04\/hike-mount-hiei-kyoto\/","title":{"rendered":"A reluctant walker hikes Mount Hiei, Kyoto"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F15293&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F15293\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F15293&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F15293&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F15293%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F15293\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F15293\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Georgia got in touch with her inner hiker on a recent trip to Kyoto with tour leader, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/staff-profiles\/all\/77\/richard-farmer\/?scroll=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Richard Farmer<\/a>. Bears, Buddhism and cherry blossom were just a few of the surprises at the top.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h1>Getting outdoors in Kyoto<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15338\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15338\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15338 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-28-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15338\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Me, tour leader Richard Farmer and School Groups Manager, Sam<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I like to think of myself as an outdoorsy sort of person. After staying in a tent for the first time in my mid-twenties (properly \u2013 festivals don\u2019t count as real camping apparently), I head out armed with giant tarpaulin and a Kelly Kettle every year.<\/p>\n<p>But when it was broken to me by tour leader Richard Farmer that I would be walking up a mountain on the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefecture, I wasn\u2019t enthralled. This wasn&#8217;t whiling away the hours under a tree with a giant cup of coffee, and it seemed as though a &#8220;walk&#8221; was underselling it somewhat; while I could manage a ramble, I&#8217;m not cool or North American enough for a hike, and surely I should have specialist gear and spend months in preparation for a trek. Which was it to be?<\/p>\n<h1>Mount Hiei<\/h1>\n<p>Towards the end of my trip to Japan, on a bright and sunny day, I stood at the foot of Mount Hiei having been told that it wasn\u2019t going to be impossible for me to reach the summit on a non-Californian, fully-Japanese hike.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15330\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15330\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15330 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"The walk from Shugaku-in Station\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-1-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15330\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>The walk from Shugaku-in Station<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We took\u00a0the train from Kyoto to Shugaku-in Station and walked 20 minutes to the start of the trail. So far, so good &#8211; although I could have happily stopped for a grape juice (the best flavour ever in Japan, please come to the UK) already. But let\u2019s put it into context, Hiei is 848m high, whereas Fuji is 3,776m. A baby mountain really.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15332\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15332\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15332 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"The base of Mountain Hiei\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-3-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15332\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Reaching the base of the mountain<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As we ascended, the changing landscape took us under a canopy of trees. My legs felt short before, but I felt positively dwarfed by the sky-high cedars. It was a hot day in April, but the sunlight dappled through the trees and the stops we took felt casual, not urgent.<\/p>\n<h1>Bears?<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15320\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15320\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15320 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Georgia walking amongst the cedars\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-16-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15320\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Playing it cool. Not scared of bears.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I was getting into the swing when a Japanese hiker strolled passed me on his way down. I heard him coming a way off because he had a couple of bells strapped to his rucksack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKonnichiwa\u201d, I said as he passed and we exchanged a knowing look that I like to think is hiker to hiker. This was a couple of hours in and I was starting to get into the whole thing; perhaps I\u2019d always been a hiker deep down. Perhaps I should be a professional hiker?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes he have the bells in case of an emergency?\u201d I asked Richard, imagining an ill-fated hiker looking up at the trees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s more to let bears know that you\u2019re coming\u201d, Richard said before continuing to tell us about the history of the mountain.<\/p>\n<p>I chuckled to myself. Bears. Here in Japan.<\/p>\n<p>But it turns out that there are bears in this mountain, and we were three, each without a bell. Perhaps hiking was better suited to someone else professionally after all.<\/p>\n<h1>Buddhism<\/h1>\n<p>I concentrated on Richard\u2019s explanations instead. As an expert on Buddhism, I wanted to appreciate the importance of this temple mountain in context. The top of the mountain is home to the head temple of the Tendai school of Buddhism, Enryaku-ji.<\/p>\n<p>His description of disciplined practice <em>Kaih\u014dgy\u014d<\/em> was particularly fascinating. This path to enlightenment for Tendai monks lasts for 1000 days over seven years. Between 100 and 200 days each\u00a0year, monks take increasingly long hikes, from 30km per day, up to 84km in the seventh year. Most difficult of all though must be the seven and a half days in the the fifth year spent reciting a Buddhist holy mantra \u2013 all without food, rest or water. My short hike was starting to seem like a small commitment.<\/p>\n<h1>Enryaku-ji<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15315\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15315\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15315 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Hokke So Ji-in and Amida-do temples, Mount Hiei, Kyoto\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-81-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15315\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Hokke So Ji-in and Amida-do temples<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15324 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"A fountain at a temple on Mount Hiei, Kyoto\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124736-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15327 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"A fountain at a temple on Mount Hiei, Kyoto\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_124837-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After discovering this, the spring in my step became springier and I was surprised to find that we had been walking for two hours on arrival at To-do, the first of the three parts of the Enryaku-ji complex.<\/p>\n<p>Temples dotted the landscape. Richard explained that there were actually 3,000 temples here until the 16th century, before a\u00a0conflict with the warlord Oda Nobunaga saw them flattened. But not to be defeated, the monks reconstructed the current temples in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.<\/p>\n<p>Wandering around Hokke So Ji-in and Amida-do, I became quite enamoured by the rock garden. An arrow points between the rocks and crouching down, you can hear plinky music escape from the floor.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15317\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15317\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15317 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Rock garden with music, Mount Hiei\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-can-hear-music-through-the-rock-80-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15317\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Note the arrow on the left<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Inside, Richard talked us through the beautiful paintings of monks lining the walls. I had to catch my breath when I saw an expansive cavernous space inside with glowing lanterns and gold Buddhas up-lit by candles; the stillness and cool air making me feel as though I had stepped back to a very different time. While guests can look in from afar while monks pray inside, cameras aren\u2019t permitted and frankly, the atmosphere wouldn&#8217;t the same if they were.<\/p>\n<p>I associate all Buddhas with feelings of calm and tranquillity (yes I am one of those people that has one in my garden), so the poster of this guy was a bit of a surprise.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15318 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-720x541.jpg\" alt=\"The imposing image of Fudo Myoo, Mount Hiei\" width=\"720\" height=\"541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-720x541.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-1200x901.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-900x676.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-1440x1081.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-780x586.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-scary-Buddha-88-e1498812816135-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is Fudo Myoo. Despite his gnarly appearance, he is actually seen as a protective deity who burns away all impairments, helping followers on the journey towards enlightenment. You should never judge a book by its cover\u2026<\/p>\n<h1>Enryakuji Kaikan<\/h1>\n<p>We stopped off at Enryakuji Kaikan, a small hotel with big views, for a spot of lunch. As a vegetarian, I had become quite fond of soba noodles, although I couldn\u2019t quite embrace the slurping that is customary in these parts.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15329 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Enryakuji Kaikan views, Mount Hiei, Kyoto\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_134556-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15299 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-720x960.jpg\" alt=\"Vegetarian soba noodles at the top of Mount Hiei\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-720x960.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-1440x1920.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-390x520.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-780x1040.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/2-510x680.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Powered by soba, we continued away from Enryakuji and paused at a viewpoint. Amazingly, despite this being the very end of April in Kyoto, cherry blossom was still thriving at the top. Apparently the cool air in the mountains\u00a0helps it bloom for longer. Huge cedars stood uniformly against a backdrop of mountains and the blossom. In the hotel there was even a spectacular view all the way to Osaka.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15345 size-half-width aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Views across Mount Hiei, Kyoto\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-390x292.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-98-510x382.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15341\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15341\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15341 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Views across Mount Hiei, Kyoto\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-46-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15341\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Not sure it gets lovelier than this&#8230;<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>All was blissfully serene, and amongst the peace I even spotted a monkey between the trees! As their home, they aren\u2019t really up for petting, or saying hello, so we left them and went on our way.<\/p>\n<h1>Cable car?<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15321\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15321\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15321 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"A road leading up to Mount Hiei.\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/20170430_123943-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15321\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Okay, so there are public transport options, but where&#8217;s the fun in that?<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-half-width wp-image-15302\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-cable-car-10-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We finally stopped for my favourite grape juice at the cable car station near the top. Although public transport up to the view is efficient, I can hand on heart say that it wouldn\u2019t have been the same as clambering up together. We ambled down at a steady pace making the most of the final fresh air, buoyed by the sense of achievement that comes from not being much of an outdoorsy person after all.<\/p>\n<p>As my last week in Japan, I had prepared to expect the unexpected, but Mount Hiei truly confounded any expectations. If you\u2019re in Kyoto and you have a pair of trainers (sturdy boots would be better), and a good level of fitness, then I heartily recommend it (city folk or not).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>If you fancy those views first-hand, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/about-us\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">contact our team<\/a>\u00a0or take a look at our other experiences in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/experience-japan\/exp-18\/outdoors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">great Japanese outdoors<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15339 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1.-Kyoto-Mount-Hiei-35-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Georgia got in touch with her inner hiker on a recent trip to Kyoto with tour leader, Richard Farmer. Bears, Buddhism and cherry blossom were just a few of the surprises at the top. Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2355,2369],"tags":[2818,3209,3212,3215],"class_list":["post-15293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-first-trip-to-japan","category-sports-and-adventure-in-japan","tag-mount-hiei","tag-tendai-buddhism","tag-buddhism-in-japan","tag-enryaku-ji"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/89"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15293"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19394,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15293\/revisions\/19394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}