Inunaki Mountain

Inunakiyama is a collective name for several peaks, including Tōmyōgadake, Tengudake, and Takashiroyama—there is no single mountain actually called “Inunakiyama.” The name is said to come from a legend in which a hunter, unable to hunt a deer because his dog barked, killed the dog; the dog then bit a giant snake that had been targeting the hunter and saved his life. The hunter later became a monk at Shippōryū-ji Temple and held a memorial for his beloved dog. After hearing this story, Emperor Uda is said to have changed the temple’s mountain name from “Ichijōsan” to “Inunakiyama.” In Inunakiyama there is Inunakiyama Onsen, a natural hot-spring area known as the closest such spot to Kansai International Airport. The spring water is a simple sodium bicarbonate spring, famous as a “beauty bath” said to be good for the skin. It is also believed to help with rheumatism, neuralgia, stomach and intestinal ailments, skin problems, and more; there is even a legend that soldiers healed their wounds here during the Nanboku-chō period. Besides soaking, visitors can enjoy hiking and barbecues, and for something more unusual, you can try Shugendō (mountain ascetic) experiences such as blowing a conch shell or standing under a waterfall. These experiences are held on the third Sunday of each month except in winter (December–February), so if you want to participate, be sure to reserve in advance.