3night 4day Oni Trail adventure (southern route)
A feet-powered journey from the mountains of Kyoto to the Sea. The Oni Trail southern route is a 3 night 4 day journey across the mountains of Kyoto, an area steeped in mythology and legends about Japanese oni (demons or ogres). The course passes through small hamlets, a 1300-year-old pilgrimage trail, ancient trade routes over the mountains, and a 700-year-old stone-laid path that a famous samurai general and his group used to reach the sea of Japan. Walk in the foosteps of Japanese history’s trailblazers on a point-to-point journey from mountains to the sea.
oni showing the way to the mountain top
Day 1
The journey starts with a ltd. express train from Kyoto Station to Kyoto by the Sea, changing trains at Fukuchiyama Station to a small local train bound for Oe Station. This route includes an ancient power spot, a shrine with rare black cedar torii gates, the cobblestone Miyazu Kaido, and the Japan Oni Cultural Museum.
Accommodation : mountain Japanese inn Green lodge
Meals: Dinner provided.
Start：8:00-
End：16:00
Total time: 8h
Total walking: 9.6km 230min *varies by ability
Total elevation gain: 329m
Tours running in October and November have the chance to witness the Sea of Clouds phenomenon on the morning of day 2 before breakfast.
Day2
After breakfast, you will receive a bento lunch to take with you into the mountains. After a short stop at a mountain shrine to pray for safe passage, you’ll enter the Miyazu Kaido. The day’s goal is Kaya Yama no Ie, a beautiful Japanese inn with excellent cuisine.
Accommodation: mountainside Japanese inn Kaya Yama no Ie
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
Start : 9:00
End : 14:30
Total time: 5.5h
Total walking: 9.4km 220min *varies by ability
Total elevation gain: 503m
Day3
After breakfast you’ll continue along the Oeyama trekking route. You’ll find boulders where oni live and views of the Kayadani Plains. You’ll also cross the pass where, long ago, medieval travelers first caught glimpse of the Sea of Japan. Descending into a small town, you’ll eventually arrive at the remote Kita train station and ride to Miyazu City, once a major port town. Tonight’s stay is at Seikiro, an national important cultural property inn with a museum.
Accommodation: town center Japanese inn Seikiro
Meals: Breakfast, & dinner provided.
Start: 8:00 End: 13:30
Total time: 5.5h
Total walking: 14.8km 240min(Individual differences)
Total elevation gain: 254m
DAY4
On the final day, spend the morning walking along the 1300-year-old pilgrimage route that crosses the iconic ‘bridge to heaven’ isthmus that crosses the sea. The route is 3km of flat walking to reach the far side, at which point, trekkers can either hike or take a cable car/chair lift to the overlook. More intrepid hikers may wish to walk all the way up to the Goddess of Mercy pilgrimage temple, Nariaiji. It’s a part of the 33-temple pilgrimage route across western Japan.
Meals: Breakfast provided.
Start: 10:00 End: flexible varies by route and transport
Total time: 2-5 h
Total walking: 3.2km - 10km *varies by desired length, adjustable.
Total elevation gain: 0m-328m *varies by route and transport
And for a more relaxing return trip, weary travelers can take the 7-minute mountain bus, cable car, and sightseeing boat back to the Amanohashidate Station side before continuing on to their next adventure.
