Mt. Kongo, the tallest mountain in Osaka Prefecture towers at 1,125 m (3,690 ft). The mountain is a key location in Japanese history, particularly during the Kamakura Period.
It witnessed the birth of Shugendo, a syncretic blend of Buddhist and Shinto beliefs, and the establishment of several temples in the area by the legendary mystic, En-no-Gyoja. Hence, it’s also a significant pilgrimage site of the Yamabushi, mountain monks and followers of Shugendo.
The mountain is also known for its connection to Kusunoki Masashige. He established Chihaya Castle on the slopes of Mt. Kongo, which you can see the remnants of to this day.
In truth, Mt. Kongo is a natural wonder. Part of the Kongo-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi National Park, it stretches across Osaka, Nara, and Wakayama.
The mountain is also famous for its winter snow and the unique phenomenon of Juhyo or “Snow Monsters”, where trees are glazed with ice, creating a surreal landscape.
If you’re planning on hiking Osaka’s tallest peak, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more!
How to Get to the Mt. Kongo
To get to Mt. Kongo, you’ll need to navigate a series of public transportation options, starting from Osaka. There also used to be a Ropeway but it has been unavailable since 2019. Here’s a basic outline of the journey:
From Namba Station, take a train on the Nankai-Koya Line towards Rinkanden-entoshi and alight at Kawachinagano Station. The journey takes about 30 minutes.
After arriving at Kawachinagano Station, make your way to the Kongotozanguchi Bus Stop (Stand 3). From there, board a Nankai bus heading towards Kongosan Ropeway-Mae. The bus journey is another 40 minutes.
Once you alight at Kongosan Ropeway-Mae, it’s a short walk to the jump-off point for the hike.
Where to Stay in Osaka
Osaka makes for an excellent base to explore the other cities around the Kansai region (though you can’t go wrong with Kyoto as well). Here are some of the most recommended places to stay:
Best Hotels in Osaka:
- Hotel It Osaka Shimachi – offers air-conditioned rooms with modern amenities like flat-screen TVs, safety deposit boxes, and private bathrooms complete with bidets, complimentary toiletries, and hairdryers. Along with free WiFi and a bar, the hotel boasts family rooms and a restaurant. The multilingual staff, proficient in English, Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese, are available around the clock at the reception to assist guests.
- Waqoo Shitaderamachi – each air-conditioned room in the hotel is equipped with a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer, and a Plasmacluster ion air purifier/humidifier. The hotel specializes in offering Buddhist vegetarian cuisine to its guests.
- Shinsaibashi ARTY Inn – a 3-star hotel that offers air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. Each room boasts city views and is equipped with amenities like a desk, flat-screen TV, private bathroom, bed linen, towels, and a fridge. You can enjoy facilities such as a sauna and a spa center, and the hotel also provides family rooms. The reception is staffed 24/7 with English and Japanese-speaking personnel.
Best Hostels in Osaka:
- R Hostel Namba South – perfect for backpackers with a very social vibe. There are various facilities like a safety box, laundry, a fully-equipped kitchen, and free Wi-Fi, with reception available from 9:30 to 22:00 and luggage storage provided.
- Imano Osaka Shinsaibashi Hostel – located in a bustling area with the latest cafés and shops, this newly opened hostel boasts a bar on the first floor, providing a perfect setting for you to enjoy food and drinks while mingling with fellow travelers from around the globe.
- Air Osaka Hostel – highly praised by guests for its friendly atmosphere. This hostel, adored for its clean Japanese style adorned with art and plants, boasts a cafe renowned for excellent cookies and coffee. It’s an ideal choice for those seeking a break from typical hostels, offering amenities like laundry, comfortable bedding, and a multilingual staff fluent in English, Japanese, French, and Chinese.
What to Know About Mt. Kongo
Difficulty
Mt. Kongo is generally easy and caters to all ages. The trails are well-maintained and marked, especially the main tail.
The main trail actually is just endless stairs until the top, so I actually don’t recommend going that route if you’re really looking for a more natural experience. If so, just take the Fushimi Trail going up and down, or taking the main trail down if you prefer to descend with just using stairs.
During winter, the trails can become snowy which would make the main trail much more appealing if you don’t have winter hiking gear.
Distance
For the Mt. Kongo Loop Trail, the hike covers a distance of approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) and involves an elevation gain of about 463 m (1,519 ft).
Duration
Considering both the difficulty and distance of the hike on Mt. Kongo, the average duration to complete the trail is approximately 2.5 hours.
Though you might actually take longer as the the summit of Mt. Kongo might surprise you with a variety of activities. It’s home to a nature and astronomy museum, shrines, temples, a campsite, and even a cafe.
The Mt. Kongo Hike
- Distance: 6 km (3.7 mi)
- Time: 2.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Summit: 1,125 m (3,690 ft)
- Best Time to Go: Spring, Autumn
- Crowds: Moderate on weekends, very little on weekdays
- Pets: Allowed
- GPS & Map: Mt. Kongo
Mt. Kongo Hiking Experience
I woke up early and dropped by the convenience store to get some breakfast and lunch for the hike to Osaka’s highest peak, Mt. Kongo.
The train ride took a couple of hours and I have unfortunately missed the bus going to the mountain so I had to stick around an hour or so for the next one. Soon, I was out into Kansai’s wilderness, one of the thing I love about bus rides through Japan’s countryside is always seeing the different natural landscapes.
I went down the bus stop hoping it was the right one but I couldn’t find the trailhead. I asked a group of guys for directions but they said it was their first time here as well. Eventually an old man pointed us to the right direction and I started the climb.
I didn’t realize it but the route I took was pretty much a stair climbing simulator, there were some nice moments here and there but a huge majority of the hike involved a ruthless uphill slope filled with flight after flight of stairs.
One of the memorable spots of Mt. Kongo was a gazebo with a huge cherry blossom beside it. As the wind blew, petals would scatter all around. It was a very zen moment.
The craziest thing was I actually had a job interview, and I had to do it while climbing the mountain. I didn’t want to, but they pretty much said it was now or never so I tried to give it a go. Needless to say, it ended very poorly due to bad connection, not that I cared much for it and I continued on the hike and reached the summit soon enough.
I asked the same group of guys to take my photo with the summit sign and had some onigiri with a view of the Kansai plains below.
After a while, I took another route going down which was much more fun. Eventually, the hike downward started to get really challenging. There were a lot of steep parts but being surrounded by the tall trees and upheaved roots was much better than the constant stairs going up.
The only thing I was unsure of was where I would end up following the path as I didn’t want to go down the same way. I finally reached the bottom of the mountain and followed the road going back to the bus stop. Along the way, there were more cherry blossoms.
I got to the bus stop and ate the remainder of my sandwich and got on the bus going back to Osaka.
From there, I went to an onsen as is customary for every hike that I do in Japan. When I got back to the area of my hostel, I had some ramen to end the day strong.
Plan Your Trip to Osaka | Best Travel Resources
Book Your Accommodations
- Booking.com – the world’s leading online booking platform for accomodations around the world, they have an extensive amount of available listings with zero booking fees and best price guarantees.
- Hostelworld – a backpacker’s best friend, Hostelworld has the largest collection of hostels and guesthouses for affordable prices.
Don’t Forget Insurance
- SafetyWing – from Nomad Insurance, an insurance by nomads for nomads. They understand our lifestyle well and have really comprehensive and flexible plans that cater to any traveler.
Find Cheap Flights
- Kiwi.com – my go-to for booking and finding the cheapest flights and it’s helped me save tons of money. They do virtual interlining which is connecting flights from airlines that do not codeshare, so you can find routes that you wouldn’t be able to find normally.
Join Tours & Activities
- GetYourGuide – is one of the best places to find unique tours and activities. I found that it’s an excellent way to meet fellow travelers and create fond memories. They are not only limited to tours as they also offer niche services such as skip-the-line tickets or private transfers.
Catch a Ride
- Rentalcars.com – nothing beats the freedom of the road, Rentalcars.com is the world’s largest online car rental service. They operate across 160 countries so they’re the perfect partner to work with if you find yourself wanting a ride.
