Azaleas of Mt. Yamato-Katsuragi and Katsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine (Ropeway)

From Kintetsu Gose Station, take a bus and ropeway up to Mt. Yamato-Katsuragi, and walk around the plateau near the summit. The azaleas in May and the Japanese pampas grass in autumn are particular highlights. After coming down the mountain, this course takes you to visit Katsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine at the eastern foot.

History and Regional Charm

Mt. Yamato-Katsuragi is a 959-meter-high mountain on the border between Nara and Osaka Prefectures, and is one peak of the Kongo mountain range. Across Mizukoshi Pass, Mt. Kongo lies adjacent to the south. In ancient times, Mt. Kongo and this mountain were collectively called Mt. Katsuragi. Motoori Norinaga of the Edo period stated in Sugagasa no Nikki that after En no Ozunu built Tenporin-ji Temple at the peak of what is now Mt. Kongo, that peak came to be called Mt. Kongo. The area near the summit forms a plateau and is also called the Katsuragi Plateau. In Showa 42 (1967), a ropeway opened from the Gose City side, and today it bustles with many climbers, especially during the azalea season in May.

Located at the eastern foot of the mountain is Katsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine. According to a story from the Kojiki preserved by the shrine, the enshrined deity, Hitokotonushi-no-Okami, appeared in the same form as Emperor Yuryaku when the emperor was hunting on Mt. Katsuragi. The deity is said to have declared: "I am Kotosaka no Kami, who pronounces evil in a single word and good in a single word, Hitokotonushi-no-Okami of Katsuragi." From this tale, the deity gathered faith as a god who grants any prayer as long as it is expressed in a single word, and is warmly known locally as "Ichigon-san."

The mountain and the shrine at its foot are also linked through their connection with Shugendo practitioners. Practitioners entering Mt. Katsuragi are said to have always visited this shrine. The deity Hitokotonushi also appears in tales of En no Gyoja; it is said that when building a bridge between Mt. Katsuragi and Mt. Kinpu in Yoshino, the deity, who was considered ugly of face, worked only at night out of shame.

Key Highlights

• ​Mt. Yamato-Katsuragi​​: From the summit down across the southern slope, azaleas bloom like an unfurled red carpet, a view likened to "a million at a single glance." Centered on torch azaleas (yamatsutsuji), they usually reach peak bloom around mid-May. From the summit, you can view the Yamato Plain to the east, Mt. Kongo and the Yoshino mountain area to the south, and from the Osaka Plain out to Osaka Bay to the west; this panoramic view is designated as a Nara Prefecture Landscape Asset. In autumn, a vast expanse of Japanese pampas grass spreads across the area near the summit.
• ​Katsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine​​: The head shrine among shrines nationwide that enshrine Hitokotonushi-no-Kami. Entering the approach from the stone torii gate and climbing the steps, a grand worship hall awaits. Standing to the left facing the worship hall is the "Chichi Icho," a giant ginkgo tree estimated to be 1,200 years old. On the grounds, there is also a stone monument engraved with Matsuo Basho's haiku, "All the more I wish to see, in the morning light among flowers, the face of the deity," composed in reference to the legend of the deity's ugly face.

Recommended Itinerary and Required Time

The estimated time required is about 5 hours. Taking the bus bound for Katsuragi Ropeway-mae from in front of Kintetsu Gose Station takes 15 minutes to the trailhead. The Katsuragi Mountain Ropeway covers a total length of about 1.4 kilometers and an elevation difference of 561 meters in about 6 minutes, offering views of the Yamato Basin below and the Yamato Sanzan Mountains in the distance. A walk of about 15 minutes from the summit station brings you to the mountain peak.

During the peak of the azalea season, it becomes quite crowded, and waiting times for the ropeway can sometimes be several hours. The peak congestion is from around 10:00 a.m. to around 2:00 p.m. You can avoid the crowds by taking the ropeway up in the evening, staying overnight at Katsuragi Kogen Lodge, and enjoying the azaleas the next morning.

For those climbing on foot, there are trails such as the Kujira Waterfall course and the North Ridge course. Light footwear such as sandals or sneakers is dangerous. Please wear hiking boots or trekking shoes, and because mountain weather changes quickly, bring rain gear and warm clothing as well.

After descending the mountain, return to Gose Station by bus and head to Katsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine. From Gose Station, it is about a 50-minute walk or about 10 minutes by taxi. If taking the Gose City Community Bus, get off at Moriwaki and walk. Around the autumn equinox, cluster amaryllis flowers bloom across the rural landscape surrounding the shrine. Because Katsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine is situated along Katsuragi Kodo, it can also be combined with a walk along this ancient trail.

Experience Summary

After taking the ropeway up to the plateau to enjoy azaleas that carpet the mountain or a sea of pampas grass, along with sweeping vistas extending to Osaka Bay, visit the foot of the mountain to offer prayers to the deity who hears single-word wishes. It is a day to encounter both the nature of the mountain and the mythology connected to it. When standing before the worship hall, try summarizing your wish into a single phrase to present to the deity.