Mt. Gakunodo

Mt. Gakunodō (学能堂山, Gakunodōyama, 1,021 m) is a mountain on the border of Tsu in Mie Prefecture and Mitsue in Nara Prefecture, and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai. Part of the Takami Mountains, it is also called “Take-no-hora” on the Mie side. Beyond a forested climb, the grassy summit opens to an unobstructed 360-degree panorama over Mt. Mimine, Mt. Takami and Mt. Ōhora. Its eastern summit slope is known for the rare crimson peony Benibana-yamashakuyaku (a Near-Threatened species), which blooms around June.
By public transport, take a Mie Kotsu bus from Kintetsu Nabari Station to Shikitsu (Roadside Station Mitsue); from there the trailhead is reached by taxi or car.

Mt. Gakunodō is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai. It is a quiet, deep mountain, and no local bus runs directly to the trailheads at Sugidaira (Tsu, Mie) or Kōzue-Kamimura (Mitsue, Nara). By public transport, take the Mie Kotsu Okutsu Line from Kintetsu Nabari Station to Roadside Station Mitsue (Shikitsu), then a taxi to the trailhead. By car, start from Roadside Station Mitsue or the parking space at Sugidaira.

*Timetable last checked: September 7, 2026

1. [Outbound] Nabari Station → Roadside Station Mitsue (Shikitsu) → trailhead
2. [Hike] Sugidaira → Mt. Gakunodō summit → Kōzue-Kamimura (loop)
3. [Return] Roadside Station Mitsue (Shikitsu) → Nabari Station
4. Recommended plans & area info

1. [Outbound] Nabari Station → Roadside Station Mitsue (Shikitsu) → trailhead

From Nabari Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line, take the Mie Kotsu Okutsu Line (bound for Shikitsu) to the Shikitsu bus stop (in front of Roadside Station “Ise-Honkaidō Mitsue”), about 54 minutes. Services are few, and the practical morning departure for hiking is the 09:50 from Nabari Station. There is no local bus from Shikitsu to the trailheads (Sugidaira / Kōzue-Kamimura), so a taxi or car is needed. A bus-only day trip is tight on time, so travelling by car is the realistic option.

Reference: NAVITIME — Nabari Station → Shikitsu (Okutsu Line)

2. [Hike] Sugidaira → Mt. Gakunodō summit → Kōzue-Kamimura (loop)

From Sugidaira on the Mie side, follow the Mizutani forest road and a trail through plantation and natural woodland to the summit. From Sugidaira to the summit is about 2 hours. The grassy summit gives a 360-degree view, and on the eastern slope you may see Benibana-yamashakuyaku. The descent to Kōzue-Kamimura on the Nara side takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. The loop linking Sugidaira, the summit and Kōzue-Kamimura takes about 5 hours; some sections are poorly signposted, so carry a map and GPS. By car, an out-and-back from Sugidaira is convenient.

Reference: Mitsue Village Tourism — Mt. Gakunodō

3. [Return] Roadside Station Mitsue (Shikitsu) → Nabari Station

To return by public transport, take a taxi from the trailhead to Shikitsu (Roadside Station Mitsue), then the Mie Kotsu Okutsu Line to Nabari Station. Services are very sparse, so plan your descent and taxi around departures such as the 15:30 from Shikitsu. By car, you can rest and buy local produce at Roadside Station Mitsue.

Reference: NAVITIME — Shikitsu → Nabari Station (Okutsu Line)

4. Recommended plans & area info

Car plan: start from the parking space at Sugidaira (or Roadside Station Mitsue) → out-and-back to the summit (about 4 hours), or the Sugidaira–Kōzue-Kamimura loop (about 5 hours).
Flower-viewing plan: visit the eastern summit slope during the Benibana-yamashakuyaku bloom (around June). As it is a rare species, keep to the paths and follow rope guidance. A quiet mountain where you can enjoy both the views and the flowers.

Featured image: アラツク / CC BY-SA 4.0