We're Huge in Japan: How to get the best leg workout of your life....

We decided it was finally time to get out to the mountains surrounding Kyoto. Going off the little we could find on the internet, we decided to try out the mountain towns of Kurama and Kibune, and the trail that connects the two. We had read on one site that the hike is a bit intense, but overall not that bad.

To get to Kurama and Kibune by public transportation, it requires a 30 minute trip by train.

How to get to Kurama and Kibune:
Start off at the Demachiyanagi Station, which is in the north part of Kyoto, just past the river split. The above ground trains leave, at least this time of year, every 15-30 minutes and your ICOCA card won't work, so either plan to use the ticket vending machines (no English option) or they have a Japanese staffed booth, who speak minimal amounts of English. They did thankfully, know words like "round trip," "2 tickets," and "Kurama," so we were able to get tickets. In total, round trip tickets cost about $16.00 for two people.

There are a couple food vendors here, selling small pastries, and dango (rice balls with caramelized soy sauce -sounds disgusting, but they are epic). Depending on where you get off the train, and what you are willing to pay for food, you can get food at the start of the hike (either Kibune side or Kurama side), but we highly recommend bringing food and extra water - about 1 L per person. We stupidly did not, and Meg paid for it by coming seconds from fainting on the train ride back (we had to get off the train early because of it -talk about embarrassing).

Anyways, hop on the train and enjoy the ride. It is absolutely gorgeous as you travel through the country side and up into the mountains.

Once you arrive in the mountains, you can either get off at Kibune or go to the train's end at Kurama. We suggest going from Kurama to Kibune if you are starting early-ish in the day. The Kibune side is a bit of a let down for the first mile or so, as the only "trail" is the narrow, winding road that connects Kibune to Kyoto. However, Kibune has killer food options for lunch or dinner- riverside restaurants where you actually dine ON the river. These tend to be pricey - about $25-$120 per person for a fixed menu of either soba or soba + fish + delicacies (unsure of how exotic these might be).

We made another new friend in Kyoto at the Kurama train station. We aren't sure exactly when he latched on the Meg's back, but next thing we know there he was. People at
the station got an absolute kick out of him.

There are several maps along the way that guide you to the entrance of the hike, but really unless you go totally rouge, you can't miss it. The town seems to only exist because of tourists going to the hike, as all the shops are either small food stores or gift shops.

The mountains are said to be guarded by Tengu (long-nosed spirits)

Here are a series of photos from the hike. Don't let them fool you, this hike is straight up, for the first 3/4 - 1 mile, and then becomes a series of up-hill switch backs. It's mostly stairs and then the Kibune side becomes just dirt and tree root path, so you really have to watch your step. It's beyond worth it, even if you too are "huge in Japan" (or at least by Japanese standards). The hike is manageable, it just takes a lot of your energy.

Thousands of cranes left at the trail head

Shoes left at the trail head

Small ponds littered the first part of the trail. Each had some sort of man-made waterfall, and a series of other sculptures.

There are all kinds of goodies you can buy along the Kurama to mountain top trail. These little Tengu head bells were about 400 yen ($4.00USD).

Japan is all about the details. The above is a close up picture of a bolt on one of the many gates on the hike.

Beautiful metal dragon heads that hold the bell up. They appeared to be very very old, as they were completely rusted.

The trail from the top of the mountain to Kibune is all like the photo above. In some ways it can be really helpful, as you have a million tiny stairs, but if they are at all damp (which is likely most of the year) they can be a bit deadly.