Private Hiking Tour From
$400
Ontake Kodo
-御嶽古道-
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This hike is easily customisable.
Distance: 5-12 km / 3-7 miles
Uphill: 300-700m / 980-2,300 feet
Downhill: 300-700m / 980-2,300 feet
Level: Beginner/Intermediate. Good to excellent fitness is required. The path is very slippery in parts.
Season: April to November
Highlights:
Pilgrims Trail: Hiking on an ancient mountain pilgrims trail, one still used by thousands of pilgrims each year to this day.
Shrines and Holy Sites: The entire trail is covered in shrines, gods, religious stone monuments, and so much more.
Waterfalls: This trail passes what are surely two of the most stunning waterfalls you could ever wish to see and as tall as 40m.
Forests and Moss: This trail goes deep, deep into an ancient forest with unbelievable moss build up.
Prices (USD):
$400 for 1-2 people
$100 per additional person
$50 per additional child (4-18 years old)
FREE (kids under 4 years old)
*Note:
To add a waterfall purification ceremony to your hike = an additional $100 per person
To add a Buddhist vegetarian lunch to your hike = an additional $50 per person
The Ontake Kodo is an ancient pilgrimage trail of the Ontake Faith, a unique mountain based Japanese religion which idolises Japan’s second highest volcano, Mount Ontake (3,067m), as the spiritual home of the faith. The faith was started in the late 1700’s and exploded in popularity towards the end of the Edo period (1603-1867). At its peak, there were millions of active, pilgrimaging believers. Though that number has gone way, way down, there are still tens of thousands of followers of the Ontake Faith, active today.
On this hike of the Ontake Kodo, we will start at Satomiya Shrine and pray to the gods at the top of the over 400 stairs. Then we will move on to Omata Sansha, where the three main gods of the faith, sit at the top of another unbelievably long and steep staircase. From there the hike begins in proper, as it winds through ancient forests, passing hundreds, if not thousands of stone monuments called reijinhi. These are monuments to the priests of each church who lead their pilgrims to Mount Ontake. Their bodies are not here, but here their souls reside. After arriving at a shrine named Junigongen, those feeling and strong can continue onto Hakkaisan Shrine. And those who are feeling tired can cut the hike shorter and begin the loop back down.
The loop down features two absolutely incredible waters. Shintaki Falls and Kiyotaki Falls are surely the highlights of the tour for most. These huge waterfalls are used by practitioners of the faith for something called takigyo. Takigyo is the Japanese name for a waterfall purification ceremony. It used to be that mountain monks would have to meditate everyday under these waterfalls for 75-100 days before they were allowed to climb Mount Ontake. Nowadays once is enough. These are truly sights that will stay with you.
Coming down after the waterfalls, you will finish the hike. This is about as far off of the beaten track as you can get in Japan and the mysterious Ontake Kodo is an amazing way to see so many aspects of Japanese beauty in one hike.
Additional Options:
Really Rural Japan may be able to match your tour with mountain monks and local ryokan to offer waterfall purification and a vegetarian lunch to your tour.
To add a waterfall purification ceremony to your hike = an additional $100 per person
To add a Buddhist vegetarian lunch to your hike = an additional $50 per person
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A knowledgeable, first aid trained local guide.
Hot drinks and snacks.
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Transportation
Lunch (lunch will be purchased before the hike and eaten on the trails)
Any other costs.
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Grippy hiking shoes.
Clothes suitable for the trails (this will vary depending on the season and the weather - please note that the hiking area is significantly colder than the town below)
Cash for lunch, taxis, etc.
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
Drinks & trail snacks
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$400 for 1-2 people
$100 per additional person
$50 per additional child (4-18 years old)
FREE (kids under 4 years old)
*Note:
To add a waterfall purification ceremony to your hike = an additional $100 per person
To add a Buddhist vegetarian lunch to your hike = an additional $50 per person
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To lock in a booking, payments must be made at least 30 days in advance of the tour. If you are booking within 30 days of your tour, the total price of the tour must be paid immediately. Once the tour has been agreed upon, we will send you a credit card payable invoice. Our cancellation policy is as follows:
30 days prior: Free
29-15 days prior: 30%
14-7 days prior: 70%
6 days prior and beyond: 100%