[Morning hike] Shizuhara, a walk through rural Kyoto

Hi fellow hikers!

This part of the Kyoto Loop Trail takes us further North into the rural side of Kyoto, following an old mountain route once used for pilgrimage and trade, passing through the hidden village of Shizuhara before crossing a sacred pass and descending into Kurama.

Two possible meeting points:
1. From Kyoto, at the Sanjo Keihan-mae bus station (West side, for buses heading North) at 9:00am. We'll take the bus 17 departing at 9:07 (don't be late!).
2. Directly at the Ohara Sanzen-in FamilyMart, at 9:45am.

Finish point: Kurama station.
Finish time: about 1pm.

Length/elevation: 7km, up and down 250m.

What to expect
We start from the rural outskirts of Ōhara and head West through villages and fields. Walking into cedar forests, we go up and down the Ebumi pass through the millenium-old transport route that used to run between the Tanba and Yamashiro provinces. We then cross the village of Shizuhara, traditionally considered a hiding place for defeated warriors. We then go into the mountains for one last up and down, climbing along Yakkozaka (the "Medicine Buddha slope") to reach Kurama.

After: from Kurama, a couple of options are open:
- Taking a dip at Kurama onsen (tattoo-friendly, with open-air bath)
- Grabbing lunch, then heading for 2-3h more walking along the Kurama river then up and down Mt Mukai (adding an extra 6km and +/- 300m elevation)

Points of difficulty
Most of the trail is on the easier side. Only the Yakkozaka slope can feel challenging, going up and down 100m over the span of 2km.

Logistics
As usual, well-worn shoes, water, snacks and appropriate clothes for the day. There will be bathrooms available midway as well as vending machines, but no convenience store beyond the one at the starting point.

Usual disclaimer
By joining this hike, you acknowledge that the organizer assumes no liability for physical injury, financial ruin, enlightenment, karmic rebalancing, or any other unforeseen catastrophe.