(伊吹山) Mt. Ibuki Hike

The highest point of Shiga Prefecture, this is supposedly famous mountain is somewhat eclipsed by the fame of Lake Biwa - the biggest lake of Japan. Still, visiting and doing an easy dayhike anytime during the year is highly recommended. Or drive to the summit. Whichever works. 

Budget: JPY9,400 (~USD91)

• JPY8,000. Roundtrip bus, allocated using Willer Bus Pass (JPY4,000 one way)
• JPY660. Train, Hikone Station < > Omi-Nagaoka Station to Ibuki-tozanguchi. (JPY330 one way)
• JPY740. Bus, Omi-Nagaoka Station < > Ibuki-tozanguchi. (JPY370 one way)

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 1,377m / 4,518ft)

• March 20, 2020
• Difficulty: 3 out of 5. Zero if you drive to the top. 
• Route below is around 11.9kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲1,243m/ ▽1,243m (7h33m)

When to Go
Anytime during the year, with winter definitely doable. However, bring full on gear (crampon, ice axe) if you're doing this outside of the main hiking season. The trail is not technical, just one straight ascent up (somewhat like Mt. Fuji).

Buses only run from May to November, and that's likely the official hiking season. 

Special Notes

• Weather forecast: English / Japanese. English more detailed, Japanese more accurate. 
• The hike is divided into ten stations - look for the signs 1 to 10合目.
• Trailheads. Access details in this link (Japanese), but as of writing (Jan 2021), I cannot see the schedule. 
• Ibuki-tozanguchi (伊吹登山口). Google maps pin. 
• Train, Tokyo to Omi-Nagaoka Station (近江長岡駅) . We actually took the bus using the JBL Bus Pass, paying about JPY4,000  one way. 
• Bus, Omi-Nagaoka Station (近江長岡駅) to Ibuki-tozanguchi (伊吹登山口). JPY370 one way. 
• Sky Terrace Parking Lot. Google maps pin. For those with car navigation, phone number is 0584-43-1155.  
• Mountain huts. 
• Paid. None. 
• Free. Emergency hut.  At the sixth station (so 60% of the hike), this mountain hut is very small and compact, but would definitely do the job. 
• There are no restrooms though, and the exposed nature of the hut/trail means doing your business is going to be a very risky business. 
• Camping. None. And the hike is pretty steep that there's not a lot of flat spot. If off season and the stores are closed, maybe wild camp at the summit, but the wind can get ridiculously strong. 

Itinerary
Friday

• 10:00pm ish. Bus, Tokyo to Hikone Station. 

Saturday

• 05:00am ish. Arrived at Hikone Station. We waited for the earliest train that will take us to Omi-Nagaoka Station. 
• 08:00am. Bus, Omi-Nagaoka Station to Ibuki-tozanguchi 
• 08:20am. Arrived at the trailhead. Right across was a rather dilapidated coin locker where we were able to stash some of our things. 
• 08:30am. Started our hike. Trailhead was pretty easy to see given the map at the bus stop and the huge arch saying Mt. Ibuki. We followed the signs to Mt. Ibuki, which means we turned right to go up the stairs soon after crossing the arch. 
• 09:00am. Arrived at the first station (1合目). 
• 09:20am. Arrived at the second station (2合目) . We walked past a ski resort (I think). 
• 09:55am. Arrived at the third station (3合目) 
• 10:05am. Arrived at the fourth station (4合目). Getting a lot colder now. and steeper. It soon started snowing. 
• 10:17am. Arrived at the fifth station (5合目) . It started snowing. 
• 10:37am. Arrived at the sixth station (6合目) . We are soon going above the tree line. 
• 10:52am. Arrived at the seventh station (7合目) . 
• 11:08am. Arrived at the eighth station (8合目) 
• 11:33am. Arrived at the summit! I have no idea when we passed the ninth station! The summit area is huge and with plenty of stalls (boarded up when we came). We walked around, but it was really windy and cold so we tried to rush down. 
• 11:45am. Started our descent. 
• 12:30pm. We stopped at the emergency hut to have a quick bite. 
• 01:49pm. Back at the trailhead! We waited for the bus and headed to our next destination.

The map at the trailhead. 

The big arch. Welcome to Mt. Ibuki!

Follow the signs. We took the stairs at the right. 

Station markers!

Snowing at the fifth station.

6th station. I think the top is visible?

Looking down, you can see everything!

Back to the hike. 

Almost at the summit!

Summit!!!

Taking a break at the emergency hut. 

Back at the trailhead.