🍁Tennozan: History, Bamboo Forest, Waterfall, Distillery Walk(Autumn Leaves)🍁

Enjoy an easy hike over 4 mountains, through quiet bamboo forests, and important historic sites!

Note: will we will not go inside the distillery but only see it from a distance

Tennozan (Emperor Mountain) overlooks the site where Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s forces defeated those of Akechi Mitsuhide after the later betrayed and killed Oda Nobunaga.

The mountainside has several historic monuments to the event, including the Hatatematsu (the flag-raising pine tree), the location where Toyotomi raised his flag to rally his forces in the battle against Mitsuhide. It overlooks the plains that are home to the various towns and cities of Osaka and Kyoto Prefectures, offers amazing views of the same, and is a fairly easy ascent. Suntory-Yama (Whiskey Mountain), 2 other mountain summits, a beautiful bamboo forest, a picturesque waterfall, and a stroll past the famous Suntory Distillery await you on this fun and easy hike.

Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, and clothes appropriate for the weather conditions on the day of the hike.

Bring plenty of water, a bento, a camera, and your sense of adventure!

The plan

11:30-11:45 - Meet at the Daily Yamazaki convenience store outside JR Yamazaki, use the toilets, get your lunch.

11:45 - The hike begins

11:50-12:05 - Walk to Hoshakuji Temple, see the 3-story pagoda, graveyard and autumn colors, begin climb.

12:05-12:25 - Hike to Aokibadani View Point, water break, enjoy the view and take some pictures.

12:35-1:00 - Hike from Aokibadani to the Hatatematsu, its view point and historic sites.

1:00-1:10 - Short climb from Hatatematsu to the Junana Resshi no Haka (Grave of 17 Izumi Samurai) and the Tennozan Kyukyeijo (break spot).

1:10-1:40 - Lunchtime

1:40-2:00 - Hike from the Junana Resshi no Haka to the summit of Tennozan. We will pass the Kamakura-era portable Sakatoke Shrine, and the location of the former Yamazaki Castle on the way.

2:00-2:30 - Hike from the summit of Tennozan to the summit of Suntory-yama. We will pass through a section of bamboo forest along the way. It’s possible that we will see monkeys in this area!

2:30-3:30 - The journey back and descent of the mountain. We will pass 2 more mountain summits, walk through an enormous bamboo forest, and have a neat view of the Meishin Expressway and the greater Osaka area on our way down.

3:30-3:45 - Minase no Taki Waterfall, we’ll stop for a look at this waterfall just meters from the Meishin Expressway.

3:45-4:15 - The final stroll back to Yamazaki Station. We will pass the famous Suntory Distillery, and cross from Osaka into Kyoto.

4:15 - Congratulations on completing this hike and thank you for coming! Your host will see you onto either the JR Line or the Hankyu Line for your trip home. See you next time!

COST: Please pay for your own food and transport fees. 1200yen for guide and detailed discussion of the history of this area by a professional guide.

DIFFICULTY: Easy/Medium