Escape the City: A Perfect Day Trip to Mt. Hiei

Looking for a fun day trip in the Otsu region just a short train ride from Kyoto? Mt. Hiei should be at the top of your list. It gave us the perfect mix of adventure and calm, just far enough from the city to feel like a true escape. These are the kinds of experiences Deb and I love most when we travel.

Starting the Day Right: Coffee Before the Adventure

We kicked off our morning the way we always do, coffee first ( well Deb had coffee I tried a mango drink). If you’ve traveled through Japan, you know how tough it can be to find a café open before 10 or 11 a.m. Luckily, we stumbled on a Starbucks that saved the day. On our last trip to Tokyo, we found a little early-opening café we adored, so now finding coffee before sightseeing feels like a mini win.

Fueled and ready, we headed to Kamisakaemachi Station and rode the train all the way to Sanjo Keihan, the last stop on the line. From there, it was a short wait at the bus stop right outside the station before hopping on the bus that takes you to the Mt. Hiei Cable Car.

The Mt. Hiei: Scenic Ride Through the Forest

Inside the cable car station, we grabbed our round-trip tickets (1,660 yen, about $11.25 USD each) from the kiosk and collected the stamps for our travel books. The cable car runs on a set schedule, so definitely check the times—getting stuck on the mountain wouldn’t be fun!

The ride up took about 10 minutes, slowly climbing through the forest. Even if heights make you nervous, this one’s manageable. I’m not great with drop-offs, but closing my eyes here and there helped, and when I peeked out, the views blew me away. Japan’s beauty always leaves me in awe—mountains, endless trees, and not a single building in sight. It felt like stepping into another world.

Arriving at the Top: Quiet Trails and Temple Bells

At the top, we followed a quiet paved path through the woods, with the faint sound of temple bells echoing in the distance. The trail ended at a fork; we chose the right path, where a booth sold entrance tickets to the temple grounds (1,000 yen, about $7 USD each).

Exploring Mt. Hiei’s Temple Grounds

Once inside, we dropped off our goshuin books to receive stamps (500 yen, about $3.50 USD each) and wandered toward the massive hall nearby. That’s when we realized we’d stumbled on something special—the Main Temple Hall was under restoration, and visitors could walk through and watch the work in progress.

This was easily one of my favorite moments of the trip. Seeing the craftsmanship, time, and care that goes into restoring such a historic building was unforgettable. The entire project spans ten years and is set to finish in 2026. It made me appreciate the temple even more, knowing how much dedication goes into preserving it for future generations.

After picking up our goshuin books, we took the giant steps to the left and arrived at the Monju-rō Gate. We spent some time exploring the area, taking in the architecture and quiet forest surroundings. Once we were done, we made our way back down toward the cable car. We were ready for a late lunch before heading back to our hotel.

Things To Note:

• Mt. Hiei has a lot to explore, so plan your route wisely.
• Vending machines are available on the temple grounds.
• There’s a small café for snacks.
• Cash only at most locations.

Lunch In the Alley

After our descent, we found Honke Tsuruki Soba by simply googling “restaurants near me” and it turned out to be an excellent choice. The food was delicious, and the staff was incredibly friendly. They even offered us an English menu, which was a nice surprise Deb and I usually rely on Google Translate, so this was a first!

Deb went with a chicken and rice dish, while I chose Udon with vegetable tempura. Both dishes were flavorful and hit the spot after a morning of exploring.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Mt. Hiei

This mini trip from Lake Biwa was absolutely worth it. It took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the cable car, and once we arrived, there was so much to explore. If you plan carefully, you could even spend a night and truly soak in the peaceful mountain atmosphere. I definitely want to return during cooler weather and spend a couple of days exploring everything we missed at the top.

If you have extra time, explore all the temples at the bottom of the hill. You could easily spend a couple of days in this area and still not see everything. When we visited, there was even a temple stamp rally, which added a fun little adventure to our day!( we only collected like 3 out of 10 or so.)