Six Days in Kyoto – Day Six

Kurama and Kibune are two tranquil mountainous villages located less than an hour away from Kyoto. This makes them the perfect half/full day trip, and you can exercise a little by doing some easy hiking!

Getting to Kurama and Kibune

Getting there is simple:

1. From Kyoto station, purchase the 1-day bus pass and take a bus to Demachi-yanagi. The trip is approx. 30 minutes.
If you need help with the bus, check out this post on how to use the app Arukumachi Kyoto.

2. From Demachi-yanagi station, take the Eizan Line to reach Kibuni-guchi station (Kurama-bound train, don’t board the Yase-bound train).

3. At Kibuni-guchi station, take a map and then board the shuttle bus through the forest to the village of Kibune.
*You can also walk 2km through the uphill forest. However, the locals told us that the scenery is ‘boring and dull’ so he did not recommend us to walk.

Kibune

When you are at Kibune, walk around the village and remember to visit the Kibune Jinja. There are many dining platforms called Yuka over the Kibune-gawa (riverbed), have your lunch there to experience catching the noddles called ‘nagashi somen’ flowing down the water in a bamboo gutter with your chopsticks.

This is a popular dining in the summer to cool off the heat over the chilling riverbed.

After that, commence your hiking ascent to Kurama-yama. The trail was rather easy and the path was flat, so no special hiking shoes are necessary if you do not have one (but do wear comfortably).

Climb up to reach Kibune Jinja
Wishes of diverse languages
Kibune Jinja
Purchase the Omikuji and put it on the water here, your fortune-telling words will appear
Tie the Omikuji here with your future hopes in mind
Yuka above the Kibune-gawa serving Nagashi Somen

Kurama

After passing some subtemples along the way, you will finally reach Kurama-dera located on top of the hiking trail. There was a huge bell before we enter the temple, remember to pray and toll it!

You will then start your descent from here. Yuki-jinja is located partway down the trail, it is famous for the festival Kurama no Hi-Matsuri (鞍馬の火祭) which reproduces the scene of receiving the deity in Kurama. It is held in October every year, so do visit if you happen to be there!

When you reach Kurama, walk towards the direction of the station. On a left turn, you will find yourself in Kurama Onsen. Have yourself an enjoyable onsen to sooth your sore legs from a day of walking, before returning to the station.
*You will purchase the type of onsen you want from a vending machine before entering the premise.

Kurama-dera
Yuki Jinja - remember to check out the enormously tall cedar tree
Kurama Tengu

Returning to Kyoto

After taking the onsen, take the free shuttle bus provided by Kurama Onsen to return to Kurama station. Remember to take a photo with the huge Tengu in front of the station!

Today finally marked the end of my six days in Kyoto. I have always kept one or two days free in case of bad weather and I have to postpone some trips. Fortunately, the trip was perfect and I had no issues at all.

If you are like me, spend your last day casually walking around Kyoto and definitely pay a morning visit to Nishiki Market again. One can never get tired of fresh food from the market!

If you have not read about how I spent my six days in Kyoto, check out here. Of course, I had my favourite Ippudo Ramen again on the last day.