[Morning/full-day hike] Mt Hiei

Hi fellow hikers!

We continue our exploration of the Kyoto Loop Trail, this time going up and down Mt Hiei, crossing on the way the Enryaku-ji, one of the most important buddist monasteries in Japan.

This hike is available in two formats:
- short (~3h), going up Mt Hiei by foot then down by cable car
- full (~6h), going up Mt Hiei, crossing the range South to North, then down to Ohara.

Meeting point: The FamilyMart at the intersection of Shirakawa-dori and Mikage-dori.
Meeting time: 9:00am, starting the hike at 9:15 no matter what excuse or bribe you may offer.

Finish point (short course): Cable-Hiei cable car station.
Finish time: about 12pm.

Finish point (full course): Todera bus station.
Finish time: about 3pm.

Length/elevation:
- short course: 6.5km, up 750m
- full course: 16km, up and down 800m.

What to expect
We start our climb into the forested foothills north of Kyoto. The path goes up through the grounds of ancient quarries that supplied Shirakawa stone and sand, widely used for lanterns and rock gardens across Kyoto. We pass on the way numerous viewpoints of Kyoto and Mt Hiei.
Higher up, the route enters the sacred grounds of Enryaku-ji, where temple paths and ancient cedars create a distinctly spiritual atmosphere. At this point, we'll have the opportunity to explore Enryaku-ji and, for those who want to call it a day, go down back to Kyoto by cable car.
Beyond the temples the trail continues along the ridge of Mt Hiei, the highest point of the Kyoto Trail, with views toward both Kyoto and Lake Biwa. From there the route descends through quiet forest and small valleys before finally emerging in the rural outskirts of Ōhara.

After: if reaching Ōhara you're still standing and willing to walk an extra mile, Sanzen-in is worth a detour to check out its quiet moss garden full of smiling Jizō statues.

Points of difficulty
The ascent can be tough at times, especially the last 3km to Mt Hiei. We'll take our time going up.

Logistics
As usual, well-worn shoes, water, snacks and appropriate clothes for the day. Mt Hiei has bathrooms in multiple locations and shops selling snacks and hot soba/udon, if people are interested we can stop there for lunch (bringing your own lunch is fine as well, we'll accommodate both). Also, bring some cash if you want to explore Enryaku-ji (hikers can pass through for free, but visitors interested in seeing its indoors need to pay for entrance).

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.