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Mt. Kongo

1,125m · Nara

Fitness 2 · EasyDay tripTimetable checked 2026/05/22
Elevation1,125m
Fitness2/10
Walking3:30
Ascent520m
Mt. Kongo1,125 mOsaka
100 First-order Triangulation Points200 Famous Mountains100 Mountains of Kansai
🚃 Reachable by public transport · Day trip · Beginner · fine for beginners
Beginner
Stamina2/10
TechnicalB some steep climbs
Trail time 3h 30mbkDistance 7.3 kmbkTotal ascent ↑520 mbk
Access ease Moderate Direct hiking bus
Gateway station Tondabayashi Station, Kawachinagano Station  →  Trailhead Kongo Trailhead, Mizukoshi Pass, Mizukoshi Pass
3 public-transport routes ・ Station→trailhead approx. 49 min ・ One way ¥500
🌸 Best season: Apr, May, Nov bk🏠 Toilets
🔍 Find similar mountains →
“bk” = data from books (being replaced with our own measurements). Distance, ascent and trail time are measured/estimated from the map route.

Mt. Kongo (金剛山) is a 1,125m peak located on the border of Osaka and Nara Prefectures.
Containing the highest point in Osaka Prefecture, it has long been beloved as a mountain of faith. A culture of daily climbing has taken root, and many hikers keep records of their climb counts, making it one of Kansai’s most popular mountains busy throughout the year.
From Kawachi-Nagano Station, you can take the Nankai Bus directly to the Kongo Trailhead. From Tondabayashi Station, you transfer between Nankai Bus and Chihaya-Akasaka Village community bus to access the Kongo Trailhead.

*Timetable last checked: May 22, 2026

How to access the trailheads

  1. [Outbound] Kawachi-Nagano Station → Kongo Trailhead
  2. [Outbound] Tondabayashi Station → Kongo Trailhead
  3. [Outbound] Tondabayashi Station → Katsuragi Trailhead → Mizukoshi-toge
  4. [Return] Kongo Trailhead → Kawachi-Nagano Station
  5. [Return] Kongo Trailhead → Tondabayashi Station
  6. [Return] Mizukoshi-toge → Katsuragi Trailhead → Tondabayashi Station

1. [Outbound] Kawachi-Nagano Station → Kongo Trailhead

From the bus stop in front of Kawachi-Nagano Station, board the Nankai Bus bound for Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi) and get off at Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi).

The Mt. Kongo Ropeway has been suspended since 2019, and was officially abolished in 2022. Buses continue to operate.

Travel time: 26 minutes (Kongo Trailhead) | 36 minutes (Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi))
Fare: ¥500

Bus TimetableKawachi-Nagano Station → Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi) → Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi) Bus Timetable

Weekday
Kawachi-Nagano Station Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi) Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi)
07:30 07:56 08:06
08:55 09:23 09:33
09:55 10:23 10:33
10:55 11:23 11:33
12:55 13:23 13:33
13:55 14:23 14:33
14:55 15:23 15:33
15:55 16:23 16:33
Sat/Sun/holidays
Kawachi-Nagano Station Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi) Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi)
6:40 7:06 7:15
7:15 7:41 7:52
7:45 8:11 8:22
8:15 8:41 8:52
8:45 9:11 9:22
9:00 9:26 9:37
9:30 9:56 10:07
10:00 10:26 10:37
10:30 10:56 11:07
11:00 11:28 11:38
11:30 11:56 12:07
12:00 12:28 12:38
12:30 12:56 13:07
13:00 13:56 14:07
13:30 13:56 14:07
14:00 14:30 14:38
14:30 14:56 15:07
15:30 15:56 16:07
16:15 16:43 16:53

Reference: [Navitime]

2. [Outbound] Tondabayashi Station → Kongo Trailhead

From in front of Tondabayashi Station, going to the Kongo Trailhead requires a transfer at Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae.

Step 1: From in front of Tondabayashi Station to Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae by Nankai Bus (about 24 minutes)
Step 2: From Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae to Kongo Trailhead by Chihaya-Akasaka Village community bus (about 16 minutes)

Total travel time: about 44 minutes (including transfer wait time)
Fare: ¥540 total (Nankai Bus ¥330 + village bus ¥210)

Kongo Bus ended operations on December 20, 2023. On the successor Kongo Furusato Bus (4-municipality community bus), you transfer to a small bus (Poncho) at Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae. Only the Nankai Bus section accepts transit IC cards. The village bus section is cash only.

Bus TimetableTondabayashi Station → (transfer) Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae → Kongo Trailhead Bus Timetable

Daily operation (weekday / Sat/Sun/holidays common)
Tondabayashi Station (Dep.) Junior High School-mae (Arr.) Junior High School-mae (Dep.) Kongo Trailhead (Arr.)
6:50 7:14 7:18 7:34
7:55 8:19 8:23 8:39
8:59 9:23 9:27 9:43
10:01 10:23 10:29 10:45
12:05 12:27 12:33 12:49
13:05 13:27 13:33 13:49
14:12 14:34 14:40 14:56
15:12 15:34 15:40 15:56
16:55 17:19 17:23 17:39
18:00 18:24 18:28 18:44
19:05 19:29 19:33 19:49
20:10 20:32 20:38 20:54

Reference: [Chihaya-Akasaka Village public transportation]

3. [Outbound] Tondabayashi Station → Katsuragi Trailhead → Mizukoshi-toge

⚠ Direct bus suspended due to Kongo Bus abolition (from December 20, 2023)

Direct buses from Tondabayashi Station to Katsuragi Trailhead / Mizukoshi-toge have been abolished. Currently, take the Kongo Furusato Bus (4-municipality community bus) to “Higashi-Mikumari” bus stop and access on foot from there.

  • Higashi-Mikumari bus stop → Katsuragi Trailhead: walk about 45 minutes (uphill)
  • Higashi-Mikumari bus stop → Mizukoshi-toge: walk about 70 minutes (uphill)

Latest times / fares: Tondabayashi City official – Kongo Furusato Bus

4. [Return] Kongo Trailhead → Kawachi-Nagano Station

From the Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi) bus stop, board the Nankai Bus bound for in front of Kawachi-Nagano Station.

Travel time: 40 minutes (from Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi)) | 34 minutes (from Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi))
Fare: ¥500

Bus TimetableMt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi) → Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi) → Kawachi-Nagano Station Bus Timetable

Weekday
Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi) Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi) Kawachi-Nagano Station
08:17 08:23 08:57
09:44 09:50 10:24
10:44 10:50 11:24
11:44 11:50 12:24
12:44 12:50 13:24
13:44 13:50 14:24
14:44 14:50 15:24
15:44 15:50 16:24
16:44 16:50 17:20
Sat/Sun/holidays
Mt. Kongo (Fushimi-toge-guchi) Kongo Trailhead (Chihaya-Hondoguchi) Kawachi-Nagano Station
07:30 07:36 08:10
08:05 08:11 08:45
08:35 08:41 09:12
09:05 09:11 09:46
09:35 09:41 10:12
09:45 09:51 10:26
10:00 10:06 10:41
10:25 10:31 11:02
10:45 10:51 11:26
11:15 11:21 11:56
11:45 11:51 12:22
12:15 12:21 12:56
12:45 12:51 13:22
13:15 13:21 13:56
13:45 13:51 14:22
14:05 14:11 14:42
14:25 14:31 15:06
14:45 14:51 15:22
15:05 15:11 15:42
15:25 15:31 16:06
15:45 15:51 16:22
16:15 16:21 16:56
17:10 17:16 17:50

Reference: [Navitime]

5. [Return] Kongo Trailhead → Tondabayashi Station

From the Kongo Trailhead to Tondabayashi Station, a transfer at Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae is required.

Step 1: From Kongo Trailhead to Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae by Chihaya-Akasaka Village community bus (about 16 minutes)
Step 2: From Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae to Tondabayashi Station by Nankai Bus (about 24 minutes)

Total travel time: about 49 minutes (including transfer wait time)
Fare: ¥540 total (village bus ¥210 + Nankai Bus ¥330)

Bus TimetableKongo Trailhead → (transfer) Chihaya-Akasaka Village Junior High School-mae → Tondabayashi Station Bus Timetable

Daily operation (weekday / Sat/Sun/holidays common)
Kongo Trailhead (Dep.) Junior High School-mae (Arr.) Junior High School-mae (Dep.) Tondabayashi Station (Arr.)
5:50 6:06 6:15 6:39
6:55 7:11 7:20 7:44
8:00 8:16 8:25 8:49
9:04 9:20 9:29 9:51
10:04 10:20 10:29 10:51
12:08 12:24 12:33 12:55
13:08 13:24 13:33 13:55
14:15 14:31 14:40 15:02
15:15 15:31 15:40 16:02
17:00 17:16 17:25 17:49
18:05 18:21 18:30 18:54
19:10 19:26 19:35 19:59

Reference: [Chihaya-Akasaka Village public transportation]

6. [Return] Mizukoshi-toge → Katsuragi Trailhead → Tondabayashi Station

⚠ Direct bus suspended due to Kongo Bus abolition (from December 20, 2023)

Direct buses from Mizukoshi-toge / Katsuragi Trailhead to Tondabayashi Station have been abolished. When descending, walk back to “Higashi-Mikumari” bus stop, and from there head to Tondabayashi Station by Kongo Furusato Bus.

  • Mizukoshi-toge → Higashi-Mikumari bus stop: walk about 60 minutes (downhill)
  • Katsuragi Trailhead → Higashi-Mikumari bus stop: walk about 35 minutes (downhill)

Latest times / fares: Tondabayashi City official – Kongo Furusato Bus

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