❄️ A Winter Hike on Mt. Hiei

Into the Snow

Have you ever hiked through snow, with not a single footprint ahead of you?

In mid-January 2025, I did just that — not alone, but with two good friends.

We started from JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station in Shiga, climbed past the peaceful Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine(日吉大社）, and pushed our way through knee-deep snow toward Mt. Ōhiei (大比叡), the highest point of Mt. Hiei.

There were no other hikers. Only fresh snow, silence, and the three of us breaking trail.

We ate a cold but unforgettable lunch near the Kyoto side cable car station, during a sudden snowstorm, and finally descended into Kyoto, ending our adventure with sake at Matsui Brewery near Demachiyanagi.

It was cold. It was wild. It was one of those hikes you talked about for years.

Hiyoshi Taisha（日吉大社） to Kinugake-iwa(衣掛岩） — A Snowy Ascent

Our journey began at JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station. The town was completely covered in snow — soft, untouched, and glowing under the morning light.

We walked to Hiyoshi Taisha, a beautiful old shrine with deep connections to Mt. Hiei. It’s the head of all Hiyoshi and Sannō shrines in Japan.

We took a short moment there — a bow, a breath, and a shared smile before heading into the forest.

Very quickly, we noticed something: there were no footprints ahead of us.

None. Not even animal tracks.

The snow was soft and deep — up to our knees in places. By the time we reached Kinugage-iwa (衣掛岩), a sacred rock halfway up the mountain, we were amazed every moment of this trail.

Mt. Dai-Hiei and a Blustery Lunch Break

It took us about three hours to reach Mt. Dai-Hiei (848 meters), the highest peak of the mountain.

There, the wind started picking up. We were tired and hungry, and we had to find the place to have a lunch! Warm meal!

Near the Cable Hiei Station on the Kyoto side, there’s a flat area — not much shelter, but enough space to sit down.

We spread out a groundsheet and took out our gas stoves and ramen packs.
That’s when the storm hit.

The snow came down fast. The wind howled. The stove wouldn’t light.

I tried again. And again. Finally, my stove got a fire and I got the water boiling. (I didn't know I should select the gas for the cold weather, I learned.)

Snow piled up on our sheets while we waited for the ramen to cook.

But oh — that ramen.Spicy, salty, hot — it felt like the best thing in the world.

We laughed. We cheered. We promised to come back in the next season too.

The Descent and a Glass of Special Sake Kagura(神蔵）

After lunch, we packed up fast. The snowstorm was still going strong, and we didn’t want to lose daylight.

We carefully made our way down the Kyoto side of the mountain, heading toward Shugakuin Station（修学院駅）.

Even though the snow made the trail hard to follow, we were in good spirits.

The teamwork, the jokes, the shared effort — it reminded me how different a group hike feels compared to hiking alone.

At last, we reached the station. Cold, wet, and smiling.

We took the Eizan train（叡山電鉄） to Demachiyanagi Station（出町柳）, and from there walked to Matsui Sake Brewery.

It’s a small, elegant brewery with a long history in Kyoto. We tried Kagura (神蔵) — a clean, smooth sake that is the one of my recent favorite.

A perfect ending to a wild winter day.

Practical Tips for Winter Hiking on Mt. Hiei

• Starting Point: JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station (Shiga side)

• Route: Hiyoshi Taisha → Kinugake-iwa → Mt. Dai-Hiei → Cable Hiei area (lunch) → Shugakuin Station (Kyoto)

• Time Required: Around 6–7 hours (longer in deep snow)

• Trail Difficulty: Moderate with snow; requires good fitness

• Recommended Gear:

• Crampons (6-point or higher)

• Hiking poles, gaiters, and warm layers

• Cold-weather gas for cooking

• Map, compass, fully charged phone

• Safety Tip: Snow hides trails. Go with friends and stick together. Check weather before you go.

Final Thoughts: Friends, Snow, and the Best Kind of Tired

This winter hike was a bit tough.

But with good friends, deep snow becomes an adventure, not just a challenge.

The silence of the mountain, the teamwork on the trail, and the laughter around a stubborn gas stove — these are the moments I hike for.

And yes, the sake helped too.🏔️🍜⛄🍶