Mt. Otowa

Mt. Otowa (Otowayama, 593 m), on the border of Yamashina Ward in Kyoto City and Ōtsu City in Shiga, is the highest point of Yamashina Ward and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai. “Otowayama” has long been known as an uta-makura, a place name used in classical poetry.
From the summit there is a fine view of Lake Biwa and the town of Ōtsu, the streets of Kyoto, and Mt. Hiei and the Hira mountains. The classic route climbs from Ōtani Station on the Keihan Keishin Line, crosses Mt. Otowa and descends to JR Ōtsu Station, taking about 3–4 hours. Its charm is that you can set off straight from a station at either end — Ōtani in the west and Ōtsu in the east.

Typically you follow the ridge from Ōtani Station toward Mt. Ōsaka to stand on the summit of Mt. Otowa, then descend via the Tōkai Nature Trail toward Ōtsu or Ishiyama.
It is a well-maintained low mountain with plenty of signposts and easy walking. It can be walked year-round and is beautiful with fresh greenery in spring and autumn colour. A radio reflector stands on the summit. There is also a course up from the Kokubu trailhead from Ishiyamadera Station on the Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line, but this article describes the traverse linking Ōtani and Ōtsu stations. It is hot in summer, so carry plenty of water.

*Information last checked: unverified

1. [Outbound] Ōtani Station → Mt. Otowa
2. [Return] Mt. Otowa → Ōtsu Station

1. [Outbound] Ōtani Station → Mt. Otowa

For Mt. Otowa, get off at Ōtani Station on the Keihan Keishin Line and follow the ridge from the trail toward Mt. Ōsaka up to the summit of Mt. Otowa. Ōtani Station is close to Keihan-Yamashina and Biwako-Hamaōtsu stations on the Keishin Line, with frequent trains. The Keishin Line runs through to the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tōzai Line (toward Uzumasa-Tenjingawa and Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae).

Reference: [Setagawa Basin Tourism Association — Mt. Otowa course]

2. [Return] Mt. Otowa → Ōtsu Station

To descend, follow the Tōkai Nature Trail and other paths from the summit, going via Nagara Park down toward the JR and Keihan Ōtsu stations. You can also walk it in reverse (Ōtsu Station → Mt. Otowa → Ōtani Station) or descend toward Ishiyamadera Station. Ōtsu Station is on the JR Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line), about 10 minutes from Kyoto Station.

Reference: [Setagawa Basin Tourism Association — Mt. Otowa course]

Relief map: GSI Japan