Approaching Momiji Season

Posted by Kyle Yates in Kansai Visitors

People are gearing up for momiji season this year. It’s the HOT topic around Japan! Pamplets designed to inform people on momiji viewing places are being handed at stations, in neighborhoods and just about anywhere people gather. Anyone who wants to see the beautiful red, yellow and orange Japanese maple leaves before they fall off the trees can pick one or more of them up for free anytime before the trees change colors.

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In previous articles, I shared places most commonly visited around the Kansai area. This time, however, I would like to share some not-so-often visited places that are beautiful nonetheless. By visiting these places, you’ll avoid the heavy crowds and tourist traps.

One really great place right in the middle of Kyoto and Osaka is Hachimangu Iwashimizu Shrine on the top of Otokoyama (Mountain). To get there, take the Keihan train from either Kyoto or Osaka, going the opposite direction of the city you begin in, and about half way between each city you’ll find Yawatashi station, Yawata City. Get off the train and exit the station. There’s only one exit! To the right of the station is another very short train, cable car actually, that goes up the side of the mountain. It takes you to the top of Hachiman mountain where Hachiman shrine is located. The mountain is large enough where you can spend the majority of the day hiking around through the trails, up and down the mountain through bamboo and Japanese maple trees.

At the westernmost end of the mountain, near where you exit the cable car at the top of the mountain, hike to your left and back towards the north-west end of the mountain for a view into Kyoto City. There are many maple trees and an old restaurant that may even be open during momiji season. It’s a very beautiful spot! For more momiji hike towards the main shrine area and you’ll find lots of red and yellow maples mixed with some bamboo. You’ll even find a bust of Thomas Edison. He’s famous in Yawata, if you didn’t already know. It’s where he got the filament to make the first light bulb.

A great way to see lots of smaller shrines and temples and visit some really famous ones is to take the Keihan train to Sanjo street. From the station exit and go away from the river towards the mountain and Kiyomizudera. Look for signs leading to Yasaka shrine. Go left down the street towards Yasaka and keep walking along that road. You’ll pass some beautiful scenery and many other shrines and temples, Chion-in, Nanzen-ji, Eikan-do and Shin-nyo-do, which will also lead you by Heian and end at Ginkakuji.

It’s a beautiful hike through temples, shrines, old-style Kyoto roads and houses, and if you hike up towards the mountain higher up, you can get great views of Kyoto City below.