17 November 2023
Not a failure
Kurama to Kibune hike
2 days ago I tried to do a hike I have done before which turned into an epic failure.
In 2017 I tried to do the Kurama to Kibune hike, which failed badly, because the path was closed due to typhoon damage. So to tempt failure once more, I headed back to a site of a previous fail soon after a recent fail to see if I could fail.
As it turns out the trail was open, it did not rain on me, the sun came out, the hike was short but nice, but my camera really struggled with the high contrast scenes. Really it seems as though my camera is no better than a phone at times.
Most people who have been to Kyoto have done the Kurama to Kibune hike, calling it a hike is a bit much, it is an hour stroll over some stairs, most of the climb is done to get to the first shrine, for which there is a ropeway. The hills are filled with various graves and things of that nature. The hiking trail is privately owned, so you have to pay $5 no matter where you enter it from.
On the way back I was on a slightly fancy train to go through the maple tree tunnel, however it is still not peak leaf season, so most people were rather blase. I think everything will be reddest in about a week from now.
So an early day, not much walking, so I might go do my laundry now.
I took the subway to the end of the line then walked a bit towards the little train that goes up to Kurama. It had been raining on and off but never rained on me. Nice clouds ahead on that mountain. It was not my destination today, but I have climbed it on a previous trip. I kind of wished I was going there today.
Getting off at Kurama, and they seem to expect huge crowds. These are the rope barriers to line up to get back on the train.
I walked up the street a bit to see what all the commotion was. Fire, police and ambulance were all attending something without great haste. If I had to guess, someone old died.
No convenience stores nearby, so I went back to the station area to stock up on vending machine beverages.
Time to go up to the shrine.
The huge tree and the moss covered roof. I remembered it from last time.
Camera is already struggling here. Sky is horrible!
Today was all staircases.
A full 42 piece leaf blower orchestra was filling the air with a wonderful cacophony and delicious 2 stroke fumes.
Got a good shot of the clouds when there is no sun. Less dynamic range needed.
Above the ropeway (which I did not use) there are more people and more steps.
I got great shots of this spot last time I was here. No sun today (yet), if I had of been an hour later there would have been great sun and wet reflective stairs.
Here is the top shrine, not that much to this one, it is more about the trees on the way up.
This is the exact spot where I was stopped in my tracks last time due to typhoon damage closing the trail. Not today!
A shrine deep in the forest.
On the hike over the top, surprisingly you can see areas being logged. Terrible looking sky!
Nearing the end of the path. Wet but never too slippery today.
This is now the Kifune shrine on the Kibune side of the hill. Is Kifune and Kibune supposed to be one or the other? They are used interchangeably.
Sun was coming out to light up the leaves and create nice reflections, and unfortunately make the sky white in my photos.
The creek along side the road is very nice, lots of mini waterfalls.
Good trees and ferns along here too. Most of the way you do need to walk on the road and there is a lot of traffic, which is at times problematic.
The last shrine at the end of the road.
The walk back down to the station was into the sun, so good light all the way for photos.
Here you can see a picnic spot in the actual stream.
An example of where you walk on the road. Trucks and buses go past!
And after a short walk down the hill, back at the station, which is a very nice station as you can see.
Final pic before I go do my laundry, the inside of the leaf viewing train with sideways seats.