Mt. Atago

Mt. Atago (愛宕山) is a 924m peak in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. The Atago Shrine enshrined at the summit is the head shrine of approximately 800 Atago Shrines nationwide, and has long been beloved by Kyoto residents as “Atago-san.” The “Sennichi-mairi” climbing the stone stairs of the approach is a summer tradition of Kyoto. The mountain trail is beautiful in the fresh greenery and autumn foliage seasons as well.
From Hankyu Arashiyama Station, take a bus to Kiyotaki. From the front approach to the summit is about a 2-hour climb.

*Timetable last checked: May 17, 2026

1. [Outbound] Hankyu Arashiyama Station → Kiyotaki

From the bus terminal in front of Hankyu Arashiyama Station, board a Route 62, 72, 92, or 94 bus bound for Kiyotaki and get off at the Kiyotaki bus stop.
Travel time: about 15 minutes
Fare: ¥230

Bus TimetableFrom Hankyu Arashiyama Station to Kiyotaki

Reference: Navitime

2. [Return] Kiyotaki → Hankyu Arashiyama Station

From the Kiyotaki bus stop, board a Route 62, 72, 92, or 94 bus toward Hankyu Arashiyama Station.
Travel time: about 15 minutes
Fare: ¥230

Bus TimetableFrom Kiyotaki to Hankyu Arashiyama Station

Reference: Navitime

Mt. Atago Hiking Routes, Difficulty & Best Season

Mt. Atago, at 924 m, is the highest peak within Kyoto City. On its summit stands Atago Shrine, the head shrine of Japan’s Atago shrines dedicated to fire prevention. For generations, the people of Kyoto have affectionately called it “Atago-san” and climbed its long stone-stepped approach as an act of devotion.

Main routes

• Omotesando (Kiyotaki) Route: Starting from Kiyotaki bus stop (about 15 minutes by bus from Hankyu Arashiyama Station), the trail passes the Otasuke-mizu spring, the former teahouse site near the 25th chō marker, the Mizuo junction and the Kuromon gate before reaching Atago Shrine at the summit. The round trip covers roughly 9-10 km with a cumulative elevation gain of about 900 m; allow around 2 hours 30 minutes for the ascent and about 2 hours for the descent, or roughly 5 hours in total (check YAMAP or a similar app for the latest trail times before you go). This well-maintained approach is one of the most popular pilgrimage trails near Kyoto.
• Tsukirinji Route: Branching off partway up the Omotesando route, this path passes the old temple of Tsukirinji before reaching the summit. It has steeper sections than the Omotesando route and is often used as the descent for a loop back to Kiyotaki.
• There are also routes from the Mizuo side, but trail conditions and signage can change, so check the latest information beforehand.

Difficulty & fitness
With a round-trip elevation gain of about 900 m, the climb is substantial and rated intermediate. The long stretch of stone steps on the Omotesando route demands stamina, though the path itself is well maintained and easy to follow. In snow season the trail becomes icy and requires light crampons, making it an advanced-level climb at that time of year.

Best season
Mt. Atago is climbed year-round, but the fresh greenery of spring and the autumn foliage are especially popular. On the night of July 31 into the morning of August 1, the shrine holds Sennichi-mairi, a midsummer pilgrimage said to bring a thousand days’ worth of blessings for a single visit — a beloved summer tradition in Kyoto, when the mountain fills all night with lantern-carrying worshippers. In deep winter, snow and ice call for proper gear and experience.

Highlights
The highlights are the imposing shrine buildings of Atago Shrine, head shrine to fire-prevention shrines across Japan; the stone markers and old teahouse sites along the Omotesando route that trace the mountain’s long history of pilgrimage; and the lantern-lit night of the Sennichi-mairi festival.

Photo byWikipedia Taken by Mass Ave 975