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From the train approaching JR Kinomoto Station on the Hokuriku Line, you can see the chair lift trail on the slope of Mt. Shizugatake. To reach Shizugatake from Kinomoto Station, take a bus bound for Sugaura (菅浦) or Shindono (新道野).
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Get off at the Ooto (大音) bus stop as seen here, and cross the road and walk toward the mountain.
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Sign pointing the way to Shizugatake. MAP
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You can see white banners on the top of Shizugatake.
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From the parking lot, there is a short path to the chair lift.
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Mt. Shizugatake chair lift costs ¥450 one way, or ¥900 round trip (as of Jun 2021). If you plan to hike down to Lake Yogo (recommended), buy a one-way ticket.
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Chair lift going to Mt. Shizugatake. This lift operates April-Nov., 9 am - 5 pm. Closed during winter.
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At the top of the chair lift. Mt. Shizugatake chair lift (500 meters long) started operating in Aug. 1959. It takes 6 minutes to go up to the top.
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After you get off the chair lift, walk up the slope for 300 meters to the summit.
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A small shrine along the way.
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A small shrine dedicated to the warriors who died at battle on the mountain.
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Near the summit are the white banners we saw from the foot of the mountain. They are written with the names of Hideyoshi's so-called "Seven Spears," in reference to his top seven samurai generals who went to battle at Shizugatake.
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The seven generals were Fukushima Masanori (1561-1624), Hirano Nagayasu (1559-1628), Kasuya Takenori (1562-1607), Katagiri Katsumoto (1556-1615), Katō Kiyomasa (1562-1611), Katō Yoshiaki (1563-1631), and Wakizaka Yasuharu (1554-1626).
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On this side of Shizugatake is a great view looking south.
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Lookout deck for the south.
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View looking south.
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Marker for the Battle of Shizugatake and the famous "Seven Spears" which refer to Hideyoshi's top generals in the battle.
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On the other side of Shizugatake is this lookout deck.
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Great views of northern Lake Biwa as seen from Mt. Shizugatake.
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Northern Lake Biwa, looking toward Sugaura. Seen from Mt. Shizugatake.
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That's Chikubushima island on the left.
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Shimmering waters of Lake Biwa.
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Yogo mountains
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In the lookout deck is this board to hang votive tablets on which people write their wishes.
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Older votive tablets which were removed from the wall are preserved as photos in this photo album.
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Another worn out monument on Shizugatake.
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Summit of Shizugatake. A small flat clearing.
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Samurai statue on Mt. Shizugatake
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Map of Shizugatake and Yogo area.
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About the Battle of Shizugatake.
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Lookout deck for Lake Yogo.
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Lake Yogo as seen from Mt. Shizugatake in Nagahama, Shiga. This is in May.
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Lake Yogo as seen from Mt. Shizugatake. This is in Sept. Looks greenish due to algae perhaps. Been like that since Aug. It turns blue again in fall.
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At one end of the summit area is a hiking trail leading to the far end of Lake Yogo, toward Yogo Station. The trail is 3.9 km.
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The trail is heavily wooded, and sometimes there is a clear area where you can see the scenery.
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Hiking trail to Lake Yogo.
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View of Nagahama.
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Lake Yogo as seen from the hiking trail on Mt. Shizugatake in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture.
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Lake Yogo gets closer toward the end of the trail.
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Lake Yogo
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Another trail from the summit of Shizugatake is next to this lookout deck.
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This trail is the shortest route to Lake Yogo. It goes down to the Yogo-so minshuku.
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Dense forest, somewhat rocky at times. Go right here.
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At the end of this trail is this shore of Lake Yogo, on the opposite end from Yogo Station. You still have to walk along one side of the lake to get to the train station. It's a scenic walk.
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The defunct Yogoko-so Kokuminshuku lodge at the southern tip of the lake. It had a scenic view of the lake. This was a national pension with affordable prices. 国民宿舎 余呉湖荘Sadly, after 40 years in business, this pension closed in Sept. 2013 due to aging facilities that were too expensive to repair. It has been torn down.
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