Mount Kongō

Mount Kongō is a mountain made up of three peaks: Katsuragi-dake, Dainichi-dake, and Yūshutsu-dake. Its name comes from the mountain name (sangō) of Kongōsan Tenpōrin-ji Temple located near the summit. Mount Kongō’s elevation is 1,125 meters, but the summit lies in Nara Prefecture. Osaka Prefecture’s highest point is the 1,053-meter mark on the mountainside of Mount Kongō. There are several hiking courses on Mount Kongō ranging from beginner to advanced levels, but the most popular is the Chihaya-hondō route. This route passes by the ruins of Chihaya Castle, where Masashige Kusunoki fought the Kamakura shogunate forces; Kongōsan Tenpōrin-ji Temple founded by En no Gyōja; Yūshutsu-dake Peak; and Fushimi Pass, reaching the Ropeway-mae bus stop in about three and a half hours. You can also skip Fushimi Pass and descend by ropeway, but as of November 2020, there was no prospect of ropeway operations resuming (the ropeway has been suspended since March 15, 2020). The Nembutsuzaka section beyond Fushimi Pass freezes easily, so extra caution is needed especially in winter. Near Fushimi Pass, the “Chihaya-enchi” area includes a campsite, the “Chihaya Stars & Nature Museum,” and an alpine plant garden, making it a nice place to stop during your hike. At the summit plaza (the former Kunimi Castle site), a live camera is installed and automatically takes photos on the hour—some hikers time their climb to catch that moment. From the summit plaza, you can enjoy a sweeping view of the Osaka Plain.