Hike of a Sacred Mountain, Mt. Hoki-daisen; Round Trip from the Natsuyama Hiking Course

From the Daisenji Temple bus stop, walk along the paved path for about 15 minutes to reach the Natsuyama trailhead.

Climb the stone steps and proceed past the Amida-do Temple and continue on up the steps of the path through an old growth forest of Japanese beech trees.

Next, the trail winds through a stretch of shrubbery and merges with the Gyojadani course. From the Natsuyama trailhead, it’s about an hour and 40 minute hike to the Sixth Station where you will see a shelter hut. From here, hike up the steep rocky slope to reach the next segment of the route, which consists of easy to climb wooden steps.

From the Ninth Station, follow the wood covered path through clusters of daisenkyaraboku (a species of Japanese yew endemic to the area). It takes about an hour and 20 minutes from the Sixth Station to the peak of Mt. Misen, where you will see a shelter hut.

Because of the danger of crumbling rocks due to erosion near the mountain’s true summit, Kengamine, hikers are not permitted to climb to it. Mt. Misen is therefore highest point that hikers can access.

For the return hike, follow the same course in reverse.