National park · Japan
Mount Hiei比叡山
Go for the temples, not the summit view: budget ¥1,000 for Enryaku-ji plus ¥840–1,080 for a cable car, ride up before 09:00, and walk the 20 min forest path between the two cable-car tops.Go for the temples, not the summit view: budget ¥1,000 for Enryaku-ji plus ¥840–1,080 for a cable car, ride up before 9:00 AM, and walk the 20 min forest path between the two cable-car tops.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
15 km²6 sq mi
approximate
Established
1800
Best months
Apr–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
At a glance
- Country
- Japan
- Area
- 15 km²6 sq mi
- The temple complex and its forested precincts, not a fenced reserve; boundaries vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1800
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Kyoto
Mount Hiei sits on the ridge northeast of Kyoto, on the Sakamoto side of Ōtsu in Shiga. Its summit holds Enryaku-ji, the Tendai headquarters founded by Saichō in 788 and rebuilt after Oda Nobunaga burned it in 1571. Two separate cable cars serve the mountain — the Eizan line from the Kyoto side and the Sakamoto line from Lake Biwa — and they do not share tickets. Most visitors day-trip from Kyoto; Sakamoto at the foot is quieter and has its own temple and shrine.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1800.
Size and age
15 km²6 sq mi · national park since 1800
The temple complex and its forested precincts, not a fenced reserve; boundaries vary by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Kyoto.
Why go
- Enryaku-ji is a working monastery, not a museum: the Konpon Chūdō hall keeps a fire said to have burned for 1,200 years.
- Two cable cars and a ropeway make the summit reachable in under an hour from central Kyoto.
- The Honzaka pilgrim steps from Sakamoto climb 500 m through mossy forest, with monkeys and small temples on the way.
- Lake Biwa views open up on the Sakamoto side, and Sakamoto itself has Hiyoshi Taisha shrine at the trailhead.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, often clear; cable cars run shorter hours
- FebCold; occasional snow on the steps
- MarMild; plum at the foot
- AprCherry and fresh green; busy weekends
- MayWarm, clear, good walking
- JunRainy season; steps slick
- JulHot and humid; start early
- AugHottest month; heat on the climb
- SepTyphoon season; check cable-car status
- OctDry, clear; early colour
- NovPeak maple colour; the busiest weeks
- DecCold and quiet; museum closes earlier
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese macaques along the climbing routesAll year · Do not feed them or leave bags open. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Japanese bush warbler (uguisu) around the Garden MuseumMar–May · Heard more often than seen. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Maple colour (momiji)Nov · Peak colour brings the largest crowds of the year. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Kyoto (Demachiyanagi)
Keihan to Demachiyanagi, Eizan train to Yase-Hieizan-guchi, then the Eizan Cable Car and ropeway to the summit.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Kyoto Station
JR Kosei line to Hieizan-Sakamoto, then a 1,200 (≈ US$9) m walk to the Sakamoto Cable Car or the Honzaka trailhead.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Ōtsu
JR Kosei line or Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto line to Sakamoto; the Keihan station is closer to the centre.
20–30 min
From Kyoto Station by direct bus
Occasional morning-only buses to the summit; winter schedules are cut back sharply.
1.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Tōdō (Eastern Pagoda) | The Konpon Chūdō main hall, the Inextinguishable Dharma Light and most of the well-known buildings. | Open with the temple ticket. |
| Saitō (Western Pagoda) | Quieter halls and forest paths about 20 min on foot from Tōdō. | Same ticket. |
| Yokawa | The northern section, reached by shuttle bus; the least visited. | Same ticket; check the shuttle. |
| Sakamoto | The town at the Lake Biwa foot: Hiyoshi Taisha shrine, Saikyōji temple, the cable-car base and the Honzaka steps. | Open; walkable. |
Sketch map
- 1Enryaku-ji, Tōdō area · Headquarters≈35.071, 135.841Map ↗
- 2Sakamoto Cable Car base · Ranger station≈35.065, 135.869Map ↗
- 3Yase-Hieizan-guchi (Eizan base) · Ranger station≈35.065, 135.828Map ↗
- 4Hiyoshi Taisha shrine · Village≈35.071, 135.866Map ↗
- 5Hieizan-Sakamoto station · Ranger station≈35.072, 135.873Map ↗
- 6Garden Museum Hiei · Viewpoint≈35.067, 135.835Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enryaku-ji temple precincts (Tōdō, Saitō, Yokawa) | JPY 1,000 (≈ US$7) | person | 2026 estimate; one ticket covers the three areas (check). |
| Eizan Cable Car and Ropeway, Kyoto side (Yase) | JPY 850–1,080 | person | One-way / return for the cable car; with the ropeway ¥820 one-way, ¥1,700 return (check). |
| Sakamoto Cable Car, Lake Biwa side | JPY 840–1,570 | person | One-way / round trip; about 11 min, the longest cable car in Japan. |
| Garden Museum Hiei | JPY 500–1,000 | person | Adult / child (check). |
| Kokuhōden museum | JPY 500–700 | person | Temple treasure hall; 2026 estimate (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Temple entry permit or guide
Cable car and ropeway seats no permit
Park rules
- Cable-car tickets
- The Eizan and Sakamoto lines are run by different companies; a return ticket on one is not valid on the other.
- Temple etiquette
- Some halls are places of worship: keep voices down, and follow any signs restricting photography.
- Trail marking
- Routes other than Honzaka are poorly signposted; carry a map and allow daylight.
- Drones
- Not allowed over the temple precincts without permission (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Saikyōji Youth Hostel, Sakamoto
Temple-run hostel on the northern edge of town; bus from either station, 5–7 min. Rates and meals are set by the hostel (check).
Near the park
Sakamoto guesthouses and ryokan
A small spread of accommodation at the Lake Biwa foot, quieter than Kyoto.
Near the park
Kyoto
Most visitors day-trip from the city; 1–1.5 h each way.
Safety
Slippery steps after rain medium
Heat on the climb medium
Cable-car service stops low
Accessibility
- Both cable cars and the ropeway carry passengers who cannot manage steps, and the summit walk between them is a mostly level forest path.
- The temple halls in Tōdō are reached over gravel and some stone steps; the Saitō and Yokawa areas involve more walking.
Visiting lightly
- Take the train and cable car rather than driving to the summit; parking at the top is limited.
- Carry out rubbish — bins are scarce on the trails.
- Do not feed the monkeys; it changes their behaviour and brings them onto the paths.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mount Hiei?
The mountain itself is free to walk. Enryaku-ji charges about ¥1,000 per person for the three temple areas (2026 estimate), and the cable cars cost roughly ¥840–1,080 one-way depending on which line and whether you add the ropeway. The Garden Museum is about ¥1,000 for adults.
What are the best hikes in Mount Hiei?
The Honzaka steps from Sakamoto are the traditional route: about 500 m of vertical gain on mossy stone, 1.5–2.5 h up, with monkeys and small temples on the way. Other routes exist but are poorly signposted. If you want the walk without the climb, the 20-minute forest path between the two cable-car tops is level and easy.
When is the best time to visit Mount Hiei?
April, May, October and November give the clearest weather and the best walking. November brings peak maple colour and the biggest crowds. Avoid the June rainy season if you plan to climb the steps, and check cable-car status during the September typhoon season.
Can I visit Mount Hiei from Kyoto without a car?
Yes. Take the Keihan line to Demachiyanagi and the Eizan train to Yase-Hieizan-guchi, then the Eizan Cable Car and ropeway. From Kyoto Station, the JR Kosei line reaches Hieizan-Sakamoto, a 1,200 m walk from the Sakamoto Cable Car and the Honzaka trailhead.
Can I use one cable-car ticket on both lines?
No. The Eizan line on the Kyoto side and the Sakamoto line on the Lake Biwa side are run by different companies, so a return ticket bought from one is not valid on the other.
Is Mount Hiei worth it if I only have half a day?
Yes, if you go early. Ride up before 09:00, spend 1.5–2 h in the Tōdō halls, and take the same line back down. Trying to combine both cable cars, the Garden Museum and the Yokawa section needs most of a day.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go