Mt. Nijo

Mt. Nijo (二上山) on the border of Katsuragi and Kashiba (Nara) and Taishi (Osaka) is one of the 100 Famous Kansai Mountains, a twin-peaked mountain whose two summits — Odake (the male peak, 517 m) and Medake (the female peak, 474 m) — stand side by side.
Long called “Futakami-yama” and sung of in the Man’yoshu, it is a history-rich mountain with, near the Odake summit, a tomb said to be that of Prince Otsu. Known too as a source of sanukite and tuff, it has a sundial set on the Medake summit. Its appeal is the ease of access — you can climb it on foot from Kintetsu Nijosan Station — and it is a beginner hike where you can enjoy cherry blossom, autumn colour and sasayuri lilies through the seasons. By public transport, Nijosan and Taimadera stations on the Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line are the starting points.

The usual route is a loop from Kintetsu Nijosan Station via the trailhead up Odake and Medake, then down the Umanose and Iwaya-toge to Taimadera Station. From Nijosan Station to Taimadera Station is about 6 km of walking, a beginner route of about 2 hours 40 minutes. The “Umanose” saddle between Odake and Medake has a toilet and a rest area, and the Medake summit is an open clearing with a view over the Nijosan Furusato Park, the Osaka Plain and the Yamato Basin.
South of Medake, from Iwaya-toge, runs the Diamond Trail (a long-distance nature trail continuing to Mt. Yamato-Katsuragi and Mt. Kongo). The elevation is low, but there are steep stone steps and root-laced paths, and as it is hot in summer with few water points, bring drinking water. It is climbable year-round; cherry blossom is at its best in early April and autumn colour in November.

*Information last checked: June 15, 2026

Access to the trailhead

1. [Outbound] Kintetsu Nijosan Station → Nijosan trailhead
2. [Return] Taimadera Station / Nijosan Station

1. [Outbound] Kintetsu Nijosan Station → Nijosan trailhead

The base is Nijosan Station on the Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line, about 30–40 minutes from Osaka-Abenobashi Station by semi-express. From the west exit, through a residential area and southwest on foot about 15 minutes (about 1 km), you reach the Nijosan trailhead (toward the Rokutanji ruins and Gimpo). The Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line runs frequently through the day; check the times on the Kintetsu official site.
※ There is no large car park near the trailhead, so the train is more convenient than a car. There is also a car park at the Nijosan Furusato Park (on the Medake side).

Reference: [Kintetsu Railway]

2. [Return] Taimadera Station / Nijosan Station

For the loop, descend from Medake via Iwaya-toge and Taimadera to Taimadera Station on the Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line (the station next to Nijosan Station). For an out-and-back, return the way you came to Nijosan Station. Around Taimadera Station is Taimadera, a temple famous for its peonies, a nice stop after the descent. Check the last-train times on the Kintetsu official site.

Reference: [Kintetsu Railway]

Route and safety notes

Route: a loop of Nijosan Station → trailhead → Gimpo → Odake (517 m, Prince Otsu’s tomb) → Umanose → Medake (474 m) → Iwaya-toge → Taimadera → Taimadera Station. About 6 km of walking, a beginner hike of about 2 hours 40 minutes. There are also a short out-and-back of Odake alone and a route up Medake from the Nijosan Furusato Park.

Umanose: the saddle between Odake and Medake has a toilet, a rest area and a vending machine. The Medake summit is a clearing with a view over the Osaka Plain, the Yamato Basin and Mt. Katsuragi from its sundial.

Diamond Trail: the northern start of the “Diamond Trail,” a long-distance nature trail running from Iwaya-toge and Takenouchi-toge to Mt. Yamato-Katsuragi and Mt. Kongo. Fit walkers use it as a traverse start.

Hazards and gear: the elevation is low, but there are steep stone steps, root-laced paths and slippery slopes. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and mind the heat and hydration in summer (bring water, as water points are few).

Highlights: spring cherry blossom (early April), early-summer sasayuri lilies and autumn colour (November) are beautiful, along with Man’yo-related historic sites and the Rokutanji ruins and Iwaya stone caves.

In an emergency: call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/rescue). Even on a low mountain, watch for sunset and losing the trail, and set off early.

Photo by Saigen Jiro / Wikimedia Commons, CC0