Mt. Jatanigamine

Mt. Jatanigamine (蛇谷ヶ峰, 901 m) is a mountain in Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, and one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai. At the northern end of the Hira Mountains (Oku-Hira), its summit looks out over Lake Biwa, Mt. Buna-ga-take, and the Oku-Hira peaks. Climbed from the Kutsuki Onsen Tenkū hot-spring resort at its foot, it is a popular mountain for its views and a post-hike bath.
Access is by Kojak bus from Adogawa Station on the JR Kosei Line.

Mt. Jatanigamine is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai. From Adogawa Station on the JR Kosei Line, take the Kojak bus “Kutsuki line” to Kutsuki-Gakkomae (about 35 minutes), then continue to Green Park Omoide-no-Mori (Kutsuki Onsen Tenkū) by the resort’s shuttle bus (reservation required) or on foot; from the trailhead the summit is about 2 hours 30 minutes round trip (about 3 hours 30 minutes as a loop). A bath at Kutsuki Onsen after the descent is recommended.

*Timetable last checked: unverified

1. [Outbound] Adogawa Station → Kutsuki-Gakkomae (bus) → Green Park Omoide-no-Mori → Jatanigamine
2. [Return] Jatanigamine → Green Park Omoide-no-Mori → Kutsuki-Gakkomae → Adogawa Station (bus)
3. Recommended plan & area info

1. [Outbound] Adogawa Station → Kutsuki-Gakkomae (bus) → Green Park Omoide-no-Mori → Jatanigamine

From Adogawa Station on the JR Kosei Line, take the Kojak bus “Kutsuki line” and alight at Kutsuki-Gakkomae (about 35 minutes). From there, reach Green Park Omoide-no-Mori (Kutsuki Onsen Tenkū) by the resort shuttle (reservation required, about 5 minutes) or on foot. From the trailhead, climb the beech-forest ridge for about 1 hour 15 minutes to the summit of Jatanigamine. The summit has a 360-degree view — Lake Biwa below, Mt. Ibuki across the water, and Mt. Buna-ga-take to the south. Services are infrequent, so plan both legs around the timetable.

Ride time: about 35 minutes (Adogawa Station – Kutsuki-Gakkomae)

Bus TimetableAdogawa Station → Kutsuki-Gakkomae

Reference: Kojak — Kutsuki line timetable

2. [Return] Jatanigamine → Green Park Omoide-no-Mori → Kutsuki-Gakkomae → Adogawa Station (bus)

To descend, return to Green Park Omoide-no-Mori, take a bath and rest at Kutsuki Onsen Tenkū, then go to Kutsuki-Gakkomae by shuttle or on foot and take the Kojak “Kutsuki line” bus back to Adogawa Station. Services are few, so be sure to check the departure to match your descent. There are no shops on the mountain, so prepare food and water around Adogawa Station.

Ride time: about 35 minutes (Kutsuki-Gakkomae – Adogawa Station)

Bus TimetableKutsuki-Gakkomae → Adogawa Station

Reference: Kojak — Kutsuki line timetable

3. Recommended plan & area info

Loop plan: Green Park Omoide-no-Mori → Jatanigamine → back via routes such as the giant katsura tree (about 3 hours 30 minutes). A simple out-and-back is about 2 hours 30 minutes, and you can wash off afterwards at Kutsuki Onsen Tenkū.
Best season: fresh greenery (April–May), autumn colour (October–November), and winter snow-mountaineering are all popular. In summer there are mountain leeches, so take measures such as salt or repellent. Pick a clear day for the fine summit views.

Photo by Motokoka / CC BY-SA 4.0