May 26, 2014 - 1 min read

Climbing Kami-Daigo in Kyoto

Along the trail are several World Heritage buildings!

By Hugo Kempeneer

Community writer

Nyoirindo (如意輪堂) at the top of Mt. Kasatori along the Kami-Daigo trail. Built in the Momoyama period (1573-1603), it sits on a steep slope and is a good example of an architecture style called “Butai-zukuri” or “building structure like a stage”

A lady praying in front of the Jizobosatsu statue at the base of Kami-Daigo in Kyoto!

The trail to the top of Mt. Kasatori part of the Kami-Daigo experience, sometimes there are steps and sometimes it's just small rocks. Above all it's steep!

A small waterfall and statue of Statue of Fudō Myō-ō (不動明王) on the Kami-Daigo trail. This is the first stop where you can take a break and have some cold refreshing spring water. After this the serious climbing will start

Temizuya with a dragon shaped head at the base of the Seiryu-gu Haiden (清瀧宮拝殿) on the Kami-Daigo trail

Close-up of the Daigo-Sui (醍醐水) hall. Notice the little tap and a cup. Many people stop here to refill their water bottles with the original spring water that Rigen-Daishi drank a long time ago

The Seiryu-gu Haiden (清瀧宮拝殿) was constructed in the Muromachi period

Side view of the Seiryu-gu Honden (清瀧宮本殿) along the Kami-Daigo trail

The Yakushido-Hall (薬師堂) has been situated in the center of the Kami-Daigo area for 850 years

This is the Godaido (五大堂) on the hiking trail to Kami-Daigo, almost on the top of Mount Kasatori in Kyoto

Inside of the Godaido hall (五大堂) a statue of Fudo Myo-o (Acalanatha) along the Kami-Daigo trail

Kaisando (開山堂) at the top of Mt. Kasatori along the Kami-Daigo trail. The Kaisando (開山堂) is dedicated to Shobo Rigen-daishi, the founder of Daigoji. It was built in 911 by his disciple, Kangen who was the first rural dean of Daigo-ji. The present building was restored by Toyotomi Hideyori in 1606

This is a map of the lower and upper parts of Daigo-ji Temple in Kyoto!

Spring is here and summer is soon approaching and the hiking season has commenced. Climbing Kami-Daigo is very popular. It is located on top of Mt. Kasatori. There is a small fee of ¥300 and one will need to register at the entrance. There is a trail and path, sometimes quite steep, and there is a railing. Some of the trail is besides a small stream, so birds will be your companions. It took me about 2 hours to get to the top and about 1½ hours to get back to the starting point. I did take some time to take pictures and had a small obento lunchbox at the top. Happy hiking!

More info

Find out more about Daigo-ji Temple.

Kakezukuri

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Hugo Kempeneer

By Hugo Kempeneer

Community writer

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