Mt Kongo Itinerary and Expenses 2020 | Osaka, Japan

Looking for a quick day hike in Osaka? You shouldn’t miss its highest point – Mt Kongo.

This article will show you our entire journey plus the actual itinerary and expenses for your reference.

Mt Kongo: Height & Trail Difficulty

Altitude: 1,125 meters above sea level
Trail type: Nature / Eco trail
Trail difficulty: Easy

Mt Kongo is the tallest peak among the Kongo Katsuragi range with a height of 1,125 meters. It stretches along the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures, but its summit is situated in Nara.

The hike basically consists of an unending flight of natural stairs – it isn’t steep, don’t worry. But it’s an easy hike perfect even for starters. In fact, many locals go there very often as a past time, including senior citizens who are actually faster than we were.

Day Hike Timings & Route

Hike route: Backtrail
Total time: 2.5 hours
Ascent: 1.5 hours
Descent: 1 hour

The route is backtrail – meaning you descend on the same route you hiked up. You will have the same view when you go back to the starting line.

Either way, you will mostly see the sun peeking through the towering trees all the way to the summit. However, you will be rewarded with a truly magnificent scenery when you reach the plateau before the peak and the summit itself.

Our group took about 1.5 hours from jump-off point to the summit in a normal pace. Going down was shorter which took us an hour or so.

▶ Gallery: Mt Kongo Day Hike Photos (February 2020)

Best Season and Time to Hike

Season: Winter (January to early February)
Time: a) Early morning (4-4:30am) to catch the sunrise at around 6:30am; b) Before lunchtime (9-10am) if you want to have your lunch at the summit

Mt Kongo is best known for its beautiful winter view with a snowy summit and trail, a little bit of snowfall, and the breathtaking juhyo (trees glazed with ice). We were lucky to see and experience all these in early February.

For a moment, there was a very light snowfall at the summit, too.

The temperature at the peak went down to -1°C.

The famous juhyo – trees glazed with ice

Registration & Fees

What’s amazing about hiking Mt Kongo is it’s totally free! No registration and fees required before and after the hike. No guides or porters required, too, since it’s an easy nature hike.

You only need to spend on your transportation to and from the mountain, which is about JPY2,460 (SGD32 / USD22) for the whole round trip.

▶ Read: Mt Kongo Day Hike Itinerary & Expenses 2020

▶ Gallery: Mt Kongo Day Hike Photos (February 2020)

How to Get to Mt Kongo

Location: 585-0051 Oazachihaya, Chihayaakasaka-mura, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka
Mode: Train, bus
Total travel time: ~1 hour (from Osaka Shinsekai)

Going to Mt Kongo is easy and quite hassle-free. Just be mindful of the train and bus timings if you have a tight itinerary. But don’t fret if you missed it – the interval is normally 8-15 minutes only.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get there:

Take the Nankai-Koya Line from Nankai Namba Station to Kawachinagano Station.
From Kawachinagano station, take bus no. 8 or 11 from stand 3 bound for Mount Kongo Ropeway (or Kongosan Ropeway-mae).
Alight at the last stop.
From the bus stop, walk for about 10 minutes to the jump-off point. It should be the next street to your left facing the bus stop.

A 30-minute quiet, winding bus ride to Mount Kongo Ropeway (Kongosan Ropeway-mae)

Bus stops in this area are just a couple of wooden benches, narrow shed, and a map with little to no English instructions. So if you are going to Mt Kongo without prior research, it might be a little difficult finding the jump-off point.

▶ Gallery: Mt Kongo Day Hike Photos (February 2020)

Things to Bring for the Winter Day Hike

If you’re hiking on a winter season, it’s highly advisable that you bring enough winter hiking clothes for your trip. If this is your first time to hike a snowy mountain, here’s a list of the things you must bring for your day hike at Mt Kongo – plus links to the things I used if you want to purchase it.

Winter Day Hike Clothing

Hooded insulated or down jacket (Decathlon)
Waterproof & windproof jacket – optional, on a rainy day (Decathlon)
Fleece jacket or pullover (Decathlon)
Heat tech long sleeve jersey (Uniqlo)
Waterproof & windproof hard shell pants with zipped pockets – for extra and convenient storage! (Decathlon)
Heat tech leggings (Uniqlo) or ski base layer (Decathlon)
Warm socks (Decathlon)
Gaiters – optional, if the trail is too icy
Insulated hiking boots (Decathlon)
Lightweight fleece or wool hat (Coldwear)
Lightweight waterproof gloves – insulated or fleece (Decathlon)
Head buff / neck warmer (Decathlon)

Winter Day Hiking Essentials

35-45 litre backpack (Decathlon)
1 litre insulated water bottle (Decathlon)
Heat packs / body warmers (Decathlon)
First aid kit
Sunscreen – though most of the trail is heavily shaded by trees
Toilet paper
High energy snacks

▶ Gallery: Mt Kongo Day Hike Photos (February 2020)

Note: You can borrow gaiters for free from the shelter at the jump-off point. It’s not available all the time. But if you happen to spot a hanging pair of gaiters there, feel free to borrow it. Be sure to return it after your hike.

Some of the winter hiking clothing above are not really necessary during the first hour of the hike. If you’re like me who sweats a lot, it would be too warm having the fleece jacket, neck warmer, gloves, and wool hat altogether.

However, when you’re close to the peak, it starts to feel really cold so you’ll have to wear the necessary layers to avoid hypothermia.

Gloves are also essential at the peak since you’ll be stationary for a short while. During your summit break, you can use your body warmers or heat packs to fight the cold.

Finally, here’s the itinerary and expenses you’ve been waiting for. I had to make sure you know all the basics first before we hop on to the detailed part.

Note: This itinerary is based on a route from Osaka Shinsekai.

Mt Kongo Day Hike Itinerary & Expenses (Updated February 2020)

Time	Directions / Itinerary	Fare
0800	Head to Dobutsuen-Mae Station Board the train towards Shin-Osaka (Midosuji Line) Alight at Namba Station	JPY180 (SGD2.30 / USD1.60)
0815	Arrive at Namba Station Board the train towards Rinkanden-entoshi (Nankai-Koya Line) Alight at Kawachinagano Station	JPY570 (SGD7.40 / USD5)
0855	Arrive at Kawachinagano Station Head to Kongotozanguchi bus stop (Stand 3) Board the Nankai bus towards Kongosan Ropeway-Mae Alight at the last stop – Kongosan Ropeway-Mae	JPY480 (SGD6.20 / USD4.30)
0925	Alight at Kongosan Ropeway-Mae Walk towards the jump-off point	–
0935	Arrive at Mt. Kongo jump-off point	–
0945	Prepare then begin the ascent	–
1115	Conquer Mt Kongo summit Rest, photo ops, early lunch	–
1230	Begin descent	–
1330	Arrive at jump-off point Tidy up shoes in the free-flowing water by the shelter	–
1345	Head to the bus stop opposite the one you got off earlier Board bus no. 8 or 11 towards Kongotozanguchi bus stop Alight at Kongotozanguchi bus stop	JPY480 (SGD6.20 / USD4.30)
1415	Head to Kawachinagano Station Board the train towards Namba Station (Nankai-Koya Line) Alight at Namba Station	JPY570 (SGD7.40 / USD5)
1445	Arrive at Namba Station Board the train towards Tennoji (Midosuji Line) Alight at Dobutsuen-Mae Station	JPY180 (SGD2.30 / USD1.60)
1455	Arrive at Dobutusen-Mae Station	–
	Total	JPY2,460 (SGD32 / USD22)

Are you ready to hike Mt Kongo?

With all these winter day hiking fundamentals, I hope you’re all set to conquer the Mt Kongo summit!

It’s past winter time but if you are planning to hike this summer, simply remove the winter essentials and hike your way up with non-insulated outer and inner wear items.

Be sure to check the weather forecast one day and hours before your hike so you can manage your expectations.

Remember to enjoy the nature trail at your own comfortable pace. Do not rush! Keep yourself hydrated at all times and don’t push yourself too hard. Take a rest when needed. Most importantly, always keep this in mind: