Drive on 100 Famous Japanese Mountain
Let us show you the attractiveness of Mt. Ibuki, one of 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. In Kansai, only 3 mountains are of 100 Famous Japanese Mountains: Mt. Ibuki, Mt. Odaigahara, & Mt. Omine. It takes 10 minutes from the Sekigahara I.C off the Meishin Expressway to reach the toll booth of Ibukiyama Driveway, and another 30-minute drive to the parking near the mountain summit. The summit parking lot can accommodate over 600 parking spaces. You can reach the mountain summit within about an hour from Nagoya St., 2 hour from Kyoto St. if the Meishin Expressway is not congested. For that, Mt. Ibuki is considered a convenient mountain destination by car for residents of Aichi, Gifu, Kyoto, Osaka, & Hyogo Prefectures.
A Summit with a Spacious Parking Area, a SkyTerrace with Delicious Food and Café, and a Hiking Trail Filled with Colorful Flower Fields
The summit parking at Ibukiyama Driveway’s endpoint corresponds to the 9th station of the hiking trail. There, you can find a drivein-like service area called SkyTerrace, which offers rest areas, foods, drinks, souvenirs, and an observation facility. At the entrance of the hiking trail from the summit parking stands a monument, with an engraved haiku by Matsuo Basho that reads “Sono mama yo / Tsuki mo tanomaji / Ibukiyama.” The poem means Mt. Ibuki is magnificent even without moonlight. 100m from the entrance is the west hiking trail, and a 40-minute hike brings you to the mountain summit at 1,377m. The west hiking trail is where all types of alpine plants bloom. It is a pleasant hiking trail that climbs a gentle slope through flower fields. Alpine blooms in early summer are breath-taking, which is why we recommend this trail. You can descend from the summit to the summit parking through the central hiking trail in about 20 minutes.
A Nature-Panoramic Viewing Spot, and a Sanctuary from the Scorching Summer Heat
The wide terrain-like surface of the summit acts as a highland summer retreat. Here, the average temperature is 10 degree lower than ground level’s. The area surrounding the summit has a breezy and pleasant climate. Since Mt. Ibuki is a standalone peak, you can easily enjoy magnificent panoramic views from its summit. On clear days, you can see Mt. Hiei, Lake Biwa, and Chikibu Island on the west side, and Mt. Haku, the Northern Alps, and other rangeson the north. To the South, you can observe the Suzuka mountain range. The summit of Mt. Ibuki is where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Japan across all four seasons. Kyuya Fukada, author of “100 Famous Japanese Mountains,” claimed that the time spent at the top of Mt. Ibuki was like heaven.
The Great Open Space, Perfect Outing Spot Post-Social Distancing
The coronavirus crisis has been threatening people around the world. Perhaps people in Japan have been frustrated because of the long social distancing period. Plus, this summer is predicted to be scorching. As such, we would recommend a drive to the top of Mt. Ibuki where you can enjoy a wonderful, refreshing feeling amid hot summer days. So by all means, visit Mt.Ibuki where you can easily drive to the summit, with your family, friends, lovers, or even by yourself. Also, according to data of traffic volume from last year, from late July to late August, traffic on weekdays is only half and one-third that of Saturdays and Sundays, respectively. On weekends, it occasionally gets crowded, but there is absolutely no congestion regardless of time of the day. If you are planning your first visit, we strongly recommend weekdays, when you can enjoy the area at your own pace.
Tales of the Past: Mt. Ibuki and Sekigahara Battlefield
Mt. Ibuki is a frequent topic in history. In ancient times, it was said that Yamato Takeru, a Japanese legendary hero, visited the mountain on his way back from the eastern expedition because of the rumor there was God on this mountain. On the summit, there also stands a statue of Yamato Takeru. In the past, Nobunaga Oda ordered people to bring overseas medicinal herbs to Mt. Ibuki and plant a medicinal garden. For that, Mt. Ibuki has long been known as a mountain of medicinal herbs. And thanks to the amount of sunshine and rainfall it enjoys, floras of Mt. Ibuki has long been famous, as mentioned in the Hyakunin Isshu (Poems of One Hundred Poets). Furthermore, the famed Sekigahara battlefield where Ieyasu Tokunaga and Mitsunari Ishida fought for power is just south of the mountain’s foot. There are other tourism spots, such as the Sasaoyama Ishida Sanseijin ruins, the Sekigahara Folklore Museum, and Tourist Center near Sekigahara station as well. So why not visit these places on your drive here and make it a memorable summer?
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For information about Mt. Ibuki and Ibukiyama Driveway, please visit: www.ibukiyama-driveway.jp
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