Mt. Oikedake

Mt. Oikedake (御池岳, 1,247 m) stands on the border of Higashiomi, Shiga Prefecture, and Inabe, Mie Prefecture, and is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai. It is the highest peak of the Suzuka Range and also the highest point in Shiga. Its summit spreads into a vast karst plateau known as the “Table Land,” with ponds, grasslands, and a chance to meet the squirrels of Kogurumi Valley.
Public transport to the trailhead is limited, so access by car or taxi is realistic.

Mt. Oikedake is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Kansai. The main trailhead is the Kogurumi Valley trailhead along National Route 306, from where you climb the valley via Katakuri Pass and Shin-no-tani to the summit (Maruyama) in about 2 hours, with a loop down to Kurakake Pass taking about 5 hours in all. Public transport is sparse, so a taxi from Nishi-Fujiwara or Ageki Station on the Sangi Railway, or a car, is realistic. The Kurakake Pass section of Route 306 is closed in winter.

*Timetable last checked: unverified

1. [Outbound] Nishi-Fujiwara Station → Kogurumi Valley trailhead (car/taxi) → Oikedake
2. [Return] Oikedake → Kurakake Pass / Kogurumi Valley trailhead → Nishi-Fujiwara Station
3. Recommended plan & area info

1. [Outbound] Nishi-Fujiwara Station → Kogurumi Valley trailhead (car/taxi) → Oikedake

The starting point is the Kogurumi Valley trailhead along National Route 306. By car, use the parking spaces near the trailhead or before the Kurakake Tunnel. Climb the valley, pass Katakuri Pass and Shin-no-tani, and emerge onto the karst Table Land. Crossing the broad plateau, reach the high point of Maruyama (the summit of Oikedake) in about 2 hours, with views of the Suzuka mountains and toward Lake Biwa. The Table Land is broad and easy to lose your way on, so carry a map/GPS and check the weather.

Reference: Yamakei Online — Kogurumi Valley trailhead

2. [Return] Oikedake → Kurakake Pass / Kogurumi Valley trailhead → Nishi-Fujiwara Station

To descend, the classic loop is from the Table Land over Suzukita-dake down to Kurakake Pass, returning to the trailhead along National Route 306 (about 5 hours in all). An out-and-back along the outbound route is also possible. Afterwards, drive or take a taxi toward Nishi-Fujiwara or Ageki Station. There are no shops or clear water sources on the mountain, so prepare plenty of food and water in advance. The broad summit can lose visibility in fog, so plan within your limits.

Reference: Yamareco — Oikedake records

3. Recommended plan & area info

Loop plan: Kogurumi Valley trailhead → Oikedake (Maruyama) → Suzukita-dake → Kurakake Pass → trailhead (about 5 hours in all). You can savour the grasslands, ponds, and karst landforms of the Table Land.
Best season: spring for dogtooth violet and adonis, fresh greenery (May–June), and autumn colour (October–November) are ideal. The vast plateau is windy, and take care of route-finding on foggy days. Winter is a snow season with the highway closed too, suited to the experienced.

Photo by Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 3.0