 Most viewed - 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.451 views
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183 views
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View of Mt. Mikami-yama amid rice paddies in Yasu. Elevation 432 meters.180 views
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176 views
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Cherry trees bloom in early April in Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (also called Omi-Fuji Green Acres), Yasu. MAP147 views
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View of Mt. Mikami from Karasaki, across Lake Biwa.140 views
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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).140 views
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136 views
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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.134 views
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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�134 views
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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.131 views
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Lookout point on Mt. Mikami in Yasu.123 views
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After passing through a bamboo grove, there is a clearing with the Tempo Gimin Monument.122 views
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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121 views
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Garden of various cherry trees.121 views
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Cherry blossoms120 views
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The "Front Mountain Path" has a gate to prevent monkeys from escaping to the residential area. Be sure to close the gate after entering.118 views
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Time capsule to be opened in 2042.118 views
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I visited this park after coming down from Mt. Mikami which was full of green and brown. So seeing bright colors in this park was a great sight.118 views
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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 MAP117 views
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Great view, but hazy when I was there. Ishibe is toward the left, and the shinkansen tracks toward the right.115 views
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Weeping cherry tree in Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (also called Omi-Fuji Green Acres) in Yasu.115 views
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View from the dip. There should be a better view on the other side too, but too many trees block the view.111 views
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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 pa110 views
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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.110 views
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Chain railing is helpful.109 views
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View from Mt. Mikami, Yasu. Ishibe is toward the left.109 views
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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..108 views
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Shrine and torii at the summit.108 views
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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.&q106 views
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The trail is rocky and rooty, with lots of tree roots.106 views
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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.105 views
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Sacred tree. The bark from this tree is used for the roofing of the shrine. Do not scratch or damage it.105 views
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Sacred rock where the god lives.105 views
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Shrine and torii at the summit.104 views
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104 views
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Sato no Ie thatched-roof house now a display space. 里の家104 views
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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).103 views
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Beware of snakes (mamushi). Never saw any. Never saw any monkeys either.102 views
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Steps101 views
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Sometimes log steps are provided.101 views
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Trail to summit.101 views
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500 meters until the peak.101 views
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View from Mt. Mikami, Yasu.101 views
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Route 8 crossing Yasu River101 views
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Going down to the lookout point.100 views
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100 views
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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.100 views
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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100 views
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Roots99 views
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Roots99 views
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Steel railing to grab.99 views
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Looking toward Ritto99 views
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Mt. Mikami and slide99 views
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Inside Sato no Ie99 views
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The sign is almost totally unreadable.98 views
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Kokegatani98 views
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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.97 views
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This trail goes around the side of the mountain. Not recommended.97 views
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Small torii and shrine.97 views
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Gods here must be happy to see such grand views.97 views
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Large stone walls97 views
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97 views
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No sign for this little shrine.96 views
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The path on the left leads to the mountain's peak.96 views
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Sign at the summit.96 views
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Bridge over the highway96 views
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Furusato Yakata for nature workshops96 views
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Sign95 views
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This is almost near the mountain's peak.95 views
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Sign pointing to a lookout point, slightly below the shrine.95 views
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Getting close to civilization.95 views
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Prevent forest fires.95 views
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On the right, Route 8 can be seen crossing Yasu River.94 views
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94 views
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Chain railing really helps.94 views
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1.4 km to Karyoku Koen Park94 views
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850 meters to Karyoku Koen flower park.94 views
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Going down from the summit.93 views
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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93 views
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BBQ93 views
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Yuba-no-Futokoro92 views
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Summit in sight.92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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92 views
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Camping lodge92 views
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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91 views
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Entrance/Exit to Karyoku Koen-gawa Tozando91 views
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This park and surrounding area has a number of different things to see and do. Walk further more and you will reach Kibogaoka Park.91 views
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91 views
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A shrine with a view.90 views
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To the peak.90 views
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Just beyond the tree is the peak.90 views
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Lots of ferns.90 views
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Tree trunk90 views
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Water fountain90 views
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89 views
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Log steps88 views
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Mt. Mikami88 views
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"Take home your trash"87 views
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Grassy lawn87 views
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Chain railing86 views
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86 views
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86 views
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Weeping cherry tree84 views
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83 views
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