Mt. Mikami & Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park 三上山（近江富士）・近江富士花緑公園

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Mt. Mikami & Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park 三上山（近江富士）・近江富士花緑公園

View of Mt. Mikami from Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park in spring.

View of Mt. Mikami-yama amid rice paddies in Yasu. Elevation 432 meters.

View of Mt. Mikami from across Lake Biwa. Famous for the Giant Centipede folktale.

View of Mt. Mikami from Karasaki, across Lake Biwa.

Mt. Mikami as seen from JR Yasu Station train platform. The south exit of Yasu Station has a tourist info office where you can get maps and directions to the bus stop.

From Yasu Station, it's a short bus ride to the foot of Mt. Mikami (get off at Yamade-mae 山出前). Then backtrack along the road to see two hiking paths. There are two trails, the Front (Omote, seen on the left)) and Back (Ura, seen on the right).

Sign shows the way to the "Front Mountain Path" (Omote Tozando). I recommend taking a bottle or two of drinks. There's a vending machine near the bus stop. If you miss the bus from Yasu Station, it's a 40 min. walk. Taxis available. 表�

The "Front Mountain Path" has a gate to prevent monkeys from escaping to the residential area. Be sure to close the gate after entering.

Sign shows the way to the "Back Mountain Path" (Ura Tozando). This is the less steep trail to the summit. Notice the peak on the left. I went on this trail. 裏登山道 MAP

After passing through a bamboo grove, there is a clearing with the Tempo Gimin Monument.

At the foot of Mt. Mikami is Tempo Gimin Monument dedicated to the farmers who were tortured to death after the 1842 Tempo Ikki (天保一揆) uprising against the government's unfair land taxation surveys..

Time capsule to be opened in 2042.

Map of Mt. Mikami. It says the trail is 1.3 km long, taking 40 min. For normal people, allow 80 min. to reach the peak. I took about 90 min. to reach the top, while taking time to take pictures.

Hiking Rules: No smoking. Do not make fire. Don't break tree branches or damage any trees. Don't take home any rocks, wood, etc. Take home your own trash.

Gate to the Back Mountain Path. Be sure to close the gate after entering. I don't know how it would prevent monkeys from climbing over the low gate. Between Sept. 23 and Nov. 3 during mushroom season, 500 yen admission is charged for the Front/Back pa

Hiking up the Back Mountain Path. The trail actually goes mainly toward the side of the mountain rather than the back. The back of the mountain has a trail going down toward Kibogaoka Bunka Koen Park.

Two wooden signs pointed in opposite directions both say "To Mt. Mikami summit." Go right to continue on the easier Back Mountain Path. Or go left to get on the steeper Front Mountain Path. The large white sign says "Take home your trash.&q

Sacred tree. The bark from this tree is used for the roofing of the shrine. Do not scratch or damage it.

Steps

The trail is rocky and rooty, with lots of tree roots.

Sometimes log steps are provided.

Halfway point called Uchikoshi 打越. It's a small clearing and crossroads for multiple trails. Also a good place to harvest matsutake mushrooms during the fall (Sept. 23-Nov. 3).

Sign

This trail goes around the side of the mountain. Not recommended.

Trail to summit.

500 meters until the peak.

Roots

Chain railing is helpful.

Roots

Steel railing to grab.

Small torii and shrine.

No sign for this little shrine.

Kokegatani Valley. There's a small dip in the trail, going down and up again. This is a small valley near the peak. Visible as a small notch next to the peak. 苔が谷

Kokegatani

View from the dip. There should be a better view on the other side too, but too many trees block the view.

Yuba-no-Futokoro

The sign is almost totally unreadable.

Summit in sight.

Shrine and torii at the summit.

A shrine with a view.

Gods here must be happy to see such grand views.

This is almost near the mountain's peak.

Sacred rock where the god lives.

Great view, but hazy when I was there. Ishibe is toward the left, and the shinkansen tracks toward the right.

Sign pointing to a lookout point, slightly below the shrine.

Going down to the lookout point.

Lookout point on Mt. Mikami in Yasu.

View from Mt. Mikami, Yasu. Ishibe is toward the left.

Looking toward Ritto

View from Mt. Mikami, Yasu.

On the right, Route 8 can be seen crossing Yasu River.

Route 8 crossing Yasu River

The path on the left leads to the mountain's peak.

To the peak.

Just beyond the tree is the peak.

Summit of Mt. Mikami. Only a small clearing with a bench. It was a great day for hiking. It is quite a popular mountain for climbers. Even for families with little kids. Didn't see any monkeys. No bears.

Sign at the summit.

"Take home your trash"

Going down from the summit.

Log steps

Large stone walls

Chain railing

Chain railing really helps.

Lots of ferns.

1.4 km to Karyoku Koen Park

Downward slope and trail. This trail is called the Karyoku Koen-gawa Tozando which starts from the Karyoku Koen flower park. 花緑公園側登山道

Tree trunk

850 meters to Karyoku Koen flower park.

Entrance/Exit to Karyoku Koen-gawa Tozando

Getting close to civilization.

Beware of snakes (mamushi). Never saw any. Never saw any monkeys either.

Prevent forest fires.

Camping lodge in Karyoku Koen Park. There are more trails within the park and other sights like cherry blossoms. To get back to Yasu Station, walk to Kibogaoka Bunka Koen Park and the bus stop is at the Kibogaoka Nishi Gate next to the parking lot.

Sandwiched between the foot of Mt. Mikami and Kibogaoka Bunka Park, Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (also called Omi-Fuji Green Acres) is about flowers and greenery, including cherry blossoms. 植物園

In spring, the cherries bloom in the botanical gardens. Lodging facilities, walking trails, playgrounds, and workshops are also provided. Water fountain. 近江富士花緑公園