Mt. Sanjusangen

Mount Sanjusangen (Sanjusangenzan, 842 m) stands on the border between Wakasa Town (Fukui) and Takashima City (Shiga). One of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai (and the Kinki 100), its name comes from a legend that the ridge beam of Kyoto’s Sanjusangen-do hall was cut from this mountain. Just below the summit spreads a broad meadow of dwarf bamboo and Japanese silver grass, with views over Wakasa Bay, Lake Biwa and, on clear days, distant Mount Haku.

*Timetable last checked: 2026-06-14

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Tomura Station → Kurami trailhead
2. [Return] Kurami trailhead → Tomura Station

1. [Outbound] Tomura Station → Kurami trailhead

Trailhead = the Kurami trailhead (south end of the Kurami settlement in Wakasa Town; parking and toilets, approx. 100 m).
Get off at Tomura Station on the JR Obama Line and walk via the Kurami settlement to the Kurami trailhead, about 40 minutes on foot. Tomura is an unstaffed station on an infrequent local line, so check the Obama Line times in advance.

On foot: Tomura Station → Kurami trailhead, about 40 min (approx. 2–3 km)

You could also use the Wakasa town bus (Ai-ai Bus) or a taxi to the Kurami settlement, but services usable for hiking are limited. If taking a taxi, booking in advance with an operator near Kaminaka or Mikata Station is recommended. By car, you can enter the Kurami trailhead parking lot from National Route 27.

2. [Return] Kurami trailhead → Tomura Station

After the descent, retrace the route and walk from the Kurami trailhead to Tomura Station, about 40 minutes. The JR Obama Line is infrequent, so allow plenty of margin between your descent and the train time.

On foot: Kurami trailhead → Tomura Station, about 40 min

3. Climbing route and estimated trail times of Mount Sanjusangen

From the Kurami trailhead the path follows a creek, passes the last water source and climbs through cedar and red-pine forest. The “Meoto-matsu” (Couple Pines) viewpoint on the ridge looks out over the Mikata Five Lakes, and higher up you emerge onto the broad meadow (Kaze-no-mori) just below the summit. A gentle climb across the meadow brings you to the top.

● Standard route (Kurami trailhead → Meoto-matsu → meadow → summit), out and back
Trailhead → (creek, last water source) → Meoto-matsu viewpoint → (steep climb) → broad meadow (Kaze-no-mori) → Mount Sanjusangen summit. An out-and-back is standard, but there is also a loop extending north to Mount Rokuro and back to Kurami.

Standard trail times for the main sections (snow-free guide)

• Kurami trailhead → Meoto-matsu viewpoint: about 1 hour
• Meoto-matsu viewpoint → meadow → Mount Sanjusangen summit: about 1 hour
• Summit → Kurami trailhead (descent): about 1 h 30 min

About 2 hours up and 1 h 30 min down, making a round trip of about 4 hours as a day hike.

The view
The broad meadow just below the summit is covered in dwarf bamboo and silver grass, a leading grassland viewpoint in Kansai with Wakasa Bay below, Lake Biwa to the east and, on clear days, distant Mount Haku. A wind-deity stone tower erected in 1832 also remains.

4. Season and emergency contacts

Best season and gear

• The best season is spring (fresh greenery) to autumn (silver grass). The Kurami trailhead has toilets and parking. There is only one last water source along the creek, so carry plenty of drinking water.
• In winter there is snow and ice, requiring light crampons and experience.

Emergency contacts

• Fukui Pref. Police, mountain rescue / Obama Police Station: 0770-52-0110
• Wakasa Town tourism: 0770-45-9111 (Wakasa Town Office)
• In an accident or distress: 110 (police) / 119 (fire & rescue). File a climbing plan.

Photo by TR15336300101