About the tour
An Incredible Hike
Scale Mt. Horaiji the old-fashioned way, on the challenging hike from the mountain-temple's village to the very top at 695m. Relax and see more, leaving the planning and timing to us!
Along the way we'll share legends and history, see panoramic views from a number of lookouts, and have a bento box lunch.
This tour is a must for hiking lovers, Japan lovers, and people looking for a more challenging day-trip that gets you immersed in nature.
Go deeper, know more
On our tour you'll gain a deeper understanding of this designated Natural Monument and spiritual place, and together we'll make sure that our local history never fades away.
Come and hear why this place attracted those seeking healing, relaxation, and a place to think in nature for over 1,300 years.
Spiritual significance
Mt Horaiji holds significance in the Japanese 'Shugendou' faith, famous for mountain monks looking for enlightenment on rocky peaks.
Come and see if you can find something new about yourself on the climb!
Not just a challenging hike
This tour is for those looking for an active way to see and feel the history and nature of Japan, with good fitness.
Overall we'll hike about 9kms over roughly 6 hours, with time for breaks to enjoy the view and eat our bento box lunch.
A must-see along the Golden Route
Mt Horaiji is in the Okumikawa region, up the mountain valley from Toyohashi, on the very popular Tokaido Shinkansen line.
A journey to Mt. Horaiji when going between Tokyo and Kyoto is a centuries-old tradition, so follow the pilgrim's path and come join us! Perfect for a day trip out of Nagoya too.
Tour highlights
- Experience a challenging hike along historic trails and steps to the summit of Mt. Horaiji, with a climb that some say is like meditation.
- See the landscapes and views from our carefully selected route, designed to give you the full Mt. Horaiji experience.
- While showing you around the spectacular nature and sights, we share the mountain's incredible legends and 1,300+ years of history.
- With us you can discover why Mt. Horaiji is a designated ‘Place of Scenic Beauty’ and ‘Natural Monument.’
- Enjoy a delicious bento box lunch while enjoying panoramic views at the main temple.
- Looking for an easier way to explore Mt. Horaiji? See our Explore Holy Mt. Horaiji Tour.
Please note the tour does not run in June, July, August or September. In the heat of Summer, try a custom tour instead.
Heights of Mt. Horaiji Tour
About your hosts
We are an Australian/Japanese couple that have loved this part of Japan for a long time. In 2023 we were able to buy our dream house not far from Mt. Horaiji, and we've made it our mission to spread our love of this incredible place and its stories as much as we can. Mt. Horaiji and this area deserve much more attention, and the local history needs to be preserved!
With both of us, we offer both native-level English and Japanese, which is useful when talking about the complicated cultural history of Japan.
We can't wait to share this place with you!
What we'll do in detail
Meet at Hon-Nagashino Station at 10:45am
We'll meet, then get the bus to the base of Mt. Horaiji shortly after.
Stroll up the mountain-temple's historical main road.
We'll see the charming village nested in the valley below Mt Horaiji, with a chance to buy snacks from a shop that's an absolute classic with a long history serving local specialities.
The Omotesando of Horaiji Temple.
Climb the 1,425 rugged stone steps, visiting incredible sights along the way.
Like countless visitors over hundreds of years, we'll climb the stairs to the mountain's main temple building.
Bento box lunch with a view at the mountain's main temple.
After reaching the top of the steps, at a lookout/rest shelter we'll take a break and eat lunch. During the break we'll share the incredible legends of the main temple area.
Make the rest of the climb to the very top.
On the rougher, more wild path that mostly Yamabushi (mountain monks) took for centuries, we'll scale the rest of the mountain.
Look out over valleys and mountains from the summit of Mt. Horaiji!
The rocky outcrop at the summit has stunning panoramic views, we'll take a break and cerebrate making it to the top.
Visit the Takauchiba lookout and hike along the mountain's ancient volcanic ridge.
Feel like you're walking on air from the rocky Takauchiba lookout where samurai used to hunt hawks and practice falconry. Walking along the Western edge of the mountain we'll see signs of Mt. Horaiji's volcanic past, with huge chunks of volcanic glass.
Visit the Toshogu shrine, where Japan's most powerful samurai is enshrined.
Built in 1651, this shrine is an atmospheric place to discover this uniquely Japanese side of Mt. Horaiji's spiritual history.
See the temple grounds under the 'mirror rock' cliff.
We will walk through the temple grounds and enter a place with Buddhist monuments and sacred spaces from centuries past.
The cave under the Kagami-iwa rock.
Bus to Hon-Nagashino Station just after 5pm.
We help you to get the bus to Hon-Nagashino Station, and make sure you can get the train towards Toyohashi for the Shinkansen. On weekends this bus leaves around 6pm instead.
Price
Up to 2 guests:
¥30,000
3 to 6 guests:
¥30,000 + ¥1,000 each for the third and extra guests
Please see inclusions and exclusions in the FAQs on this page. Train and bus fares are not included. The day's bus fares are roughly ¥600 per adult.
Want more information about Mt Horaiji?
For more information about Mt. Horaiji and its history, Aichi Now has a great site about it.
Make a free booking request:
Add the booking request to the cart and 'check out' later, or use the contact form below
[Tour Request] Heights of Mt. Horaiji tour
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FAQs and details
Tour dates
Possible Tour Dates
The tour does not run from June to September, due to the rainy season and heat of Japanese Summer. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Tour is recommended on weekdays only, but weekends are possible
Due to a lack of public transport options in the mountains, on weekends there is more waiting time before local buses, making it more difficult to run as a day trip from Nagoya.
What is included/excluded in the price?
Included in the tour:
- One bento box lunch per person
Not included in the tour:
- Train and bus fares
- Drinks and water (the tour area has vending machines and some access to drinking water)
- Luggage storage (it's best to send luggage to your next hotel, or Toyohashi Station has some coin lockers)
What do I need for the tour?
- A good level of fitness - this tour involves many steps and a 500m+ climb overall, requiring good stamina.
- Confidence/ability to walk on forest trails and many uneven, hand-carved steps - if you have a bad ankle/knee/back it's best not to do the tour, but please feel free to contact us to work out a custom tour for you!
- Shoes suitable for walking - preferably hiking shoes.
- A hat, and preferably a sun shirt, sunglasses, and sunscreen - especially in warmer months. We walk through the forest but there is still a chance of being sunburned. We offer insect repellent in warmer months.
- A water bottle (even a reused drink bottle in a pinch).
- Sufficient travel insurance for this type of activity - we are not responsible for injuries that may occur on the tour, and in the case of injury we will make sure medical attention is received as quickly as possible. The Japanese medical system is quite fair, but some travel insurance companies are not - please make sure hiking-style tours are covered.
Cancellations and bad weather
Please see our page on Tour Policies and Conditions