Mount Hiei 比叡山 Hiei-zan

A sacred mountain where monks once ran 40km daily for seven years straight, and you’ll be winded just climbing the steps from the cable car station. Enlightenment was never meant to be this convenient.

Location: Northeast of Kyoto, straddling the border with 滋賀県 Shiga-ken (Shiga Prefecture)

Getting there:

• Train to 八瀬比叡山口駅 Yase-Hieizanguchi (Yase-Hieizanguchi Station)
• Cable car (funicular) up to the summit

Admission: Various fees for temples and attractions (700-1,000 JPY range)

Mount Hiei is home to 延暦寺 Enryaku-ji (Enryaku Temple), headquarters of the Tendai sect of Buddhism and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The complex sprawls across three areas connected by scenic forest paths where monks historically performed the legendary “Marathon Monks” ritual. These hardcore ascetics ran the equivalent of the Earth’s circumference over seven years while wearing nothing but straw sandals.

What to see:

• The main temple complex with its ancient buildings
• Botanical garden showcasing mountain flora
• Small museum displaying temple treasures
• Hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty

What to expect:

• Spectacular views of Kyoto and 琵琶湖 Biwa-ko (Lake Biwa)
• Weather that probably won’t cooperate on the day you visit
• A cable car ride offering views that improve proportionally with your altitude and inversely with the number of tour groups sharing your car