Snow on Hieizan

Shibuya246 · 21 March 2014 · 1 min read · 2,546 views

I went for a drive late in the day and caught some snow on Mt Hiei about half way up.

Visiting today · Kyoto, Kansai

Visiting Mount Hiei and the Hieizan Driveway, Kyoto and Shiga today

Checked October 2026 · next check January 2027

Added by Shibuya246, separate from the original post above. Facts are checked every quarter against the sources below. Check opening times and prices before you go.

What it is: The mountain above Kyoto and Otsu, home to Enryaku-ji temple. The Hieizan and Okuhiei driveways run about 20 km around it, with views over Lake Biwa and Kyoto.
Getting there: By car, the driveways are open 7:00-23:00, weather permitting; the toll for a standard car crossing both is ¥2,320. Without a car, take the Eizan Line from Demachiyanagi to Yase-Hieizan-guchi, then the Eizan Cable and Ropeway.
Admission: A common ticket for Enryaku-ji's Todo, Saito and Yokawa areas is ¥1,000 for adults. Todo is open 9:00-16:00.
Tip: For snow, note that the Hieizan Drive Bus from Kyoto Station does not run from 4 January until the day before the spring equinox, and the ropeway also pauses for certain periods.
Best time: Over 1,000 double cherry trees bloom along the driveway around Golden Week, and the roadside turns red in autumn.

Best time

Double cherry blossoms around Golden Week; autumn leaves along the driveway

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Same stamp, more posts: Flowers on Mount Hiei (2012) · Mount Hiei (2012) · Ropeway, Cable car on Mount Hiei (2012) · Mount Hieizan, Sunset (2012)

Sources: Hieizan-Okuhiei Driveway (Otsu City Tourism Association) · The Complete Sightseeing Guide to Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei (Good Luck Trip)

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