Mt. Ibuki

Mt. Ibuki is the highest mountain in Shiga Prefecture, reaching 1,317 meters. It appears in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, and a legend says Yamato Takeru encountered a white boar here; a statue of Yamato Takeru stands on the summit in connection with this story. If you hike from the trailhead in Ueno, Maibara City, it takes roughly 3.5 hours one way to reach the top. Alternatively, you can use the toll Ibukiyama Driveway starting from Sekigahara Town in Gifu Prefecture, which allows you to travel smoothly up to the 9th station. The driveway is about 12 km from the Meishin Expressway Sekigahara IC to the parking area. At the 9th station, there is also “Sky Terrace Ibukiyama” where you can shop for souvenirs and eat meals, including many products featuring Mt. Ibuki’s famous medicinal herbs. From there, it’s about a 20-minute walk to the summit. As you approach the top, natural flower fields spread out. Because the summit has no major obstructions, you can enjoy a full panoramic view of Lake Biwa—and on clear days, you may even see Mt. Fuji.