The Konze Alps are a great dayhike easily accessible from the Kansai area and Nagoya. There is a variety of trails to choose from to make your hike shorter or longer and some ropes to make it a bit more interesting. The granite boulders and formations are very beautiful and make for great climbing and viewpoint spots.
⏲︎ Time: 6h
✎ Kanji: 金勝
⚲ Location: Shiga
↔ Distance: 9.4km
✮ Difficulty: Easy
ᨒ Elevation Gain: 610m
☀ Dayhike
☉ Hiking Season: March
to December
Access
Public Trabsportation
Take the train to Kusatsu station and there change to the bus to Kami Kiryu. The bus runs about once an hour and it’s a 5 min walk from the bus stop to the trailhead.
Car
Park at the Ichijone parking lot close to the trailhead. Parking is 500¥ and there are toilets.
Trail description
There are many trails to explore the Konze Alps. Described here is a loop with short detour to one of the peaks.
Start from the parking lot and walk towards the forest. Always follow the signs for Ochigataki waterfall. The signs are in Japanese and English and easy to follow.
Once you get to the waterfall you’ll have to backtrack 5min and then start climbing up the ridge towards Keikazan and Tenguiwa. When you get to the junction you can detour up to Mt. Keikazan which adds about an hour. If you want to keep the hike short, turn right and go towards Tenguiwa. The next section is very scenic with lots of big granite boulders. Most of them you can climb and they make excellent viewpoints.
The “peak” of Tenguiwanis the highest point on this hike with excellent views in all directions. You can climb to the top with the help of your hands and a chain. It’s not very difficult and with a bit of care anybody can make it up.
The bottom also has two benches which makes this spot a good choice for a break, lunch.
After climbing down continue on the ridge and follow the signs for 狛坂磨崖仏. You’ll pass a flat area which used to host a shrine. There are still some Buddha’s chiseled into the rocks.
Then follow the old road/trail down the mountain towards the parking lot. Eventually you’ll get out to an old road and cross underneath a highway. Pass the campground and swimming area and you’ll get back out at the parking lot.
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