Mount Hiei

★ 4.9 (12K+ reviews) • 80K+ booked
Overview
Things to do
Hotels
Restaurants

Mount Hiei Tickets & Tours

Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine & Miho Museum & Former Chikurin-in Temple Day Trip | Departing from Osaka/Kyoto
Tours • From Osaka, Kyoto

Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine & Miho Museum & Former Chikurin-in Temple Day Trip | Departing from Osaka/Kyoto

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Hotel pick-up
English guided
Free cancellation
★ 4.3 (309) • 3K+ booked
€ 53.65
Miho Museum & Old Chikurin-in & Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine on Mount Hiei & Lake Biwa-Shirahige Shrine One-Day Tour (Osaka/Kyoto pick-up and drop-off available)
Tours • From Osaka

Miho Museum & Old Chikurin-in & Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine on Mount Hiei & Lake Biwa-Shirahige Shrine One-Day Tour (Osaka/Kyoto pick-up and drop-off available)

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English guided
Free cancellation
★ 4.9 (7) • 100+ booked
€ 54.35
Lake Biwa in Four Seasons & La Collina Omihachiman & Nara Day Trip
Tours • From Osaka

Lake Biwa in Four Seasons & La Collina Omihachiman & Nara Day Trip

Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
€ 97.65
Lake Biwa in Four Seasons, La Collina Omihachiman, and a Day Trip to Nara (from Osaka)
Tours • From Osaka

Lake Biwa in Four Seasons, La Collina Omihachiman, and a Day Trip to Nara (from Osaka)

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English guided
Free cancellation
€ 97.65
20 off
Sale
Kyoto: Eizan Cable Car ticket
Cable cars • Kyoto

Kyoto: Eizan Cable Car ticket

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Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (53) • 3K+ booked
€ 10.19
€ 10.75
Kyoto: Authentic Knife-Making Experience at a Blacksmith Shop
Cultural experiences • Kyoto

Kyoto: Authentic Knife-Making Experience at a Blacksmith Shop

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English guided
Morning departure
Up to 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.9 (108) • 2K+ booked
€ 123.39
Authentic Ninja Weapon Forging Experience in Kyoto
Kyoto

Authentic Ninja Weapon Forging Experience in Kyoto

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English guided
Up to 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.9 (104) • 2K+ booked
€ 123.39
Sakamoto Cable Car Ticket
Cable cars • Otsu

Sakamoto Cable Car Ticket

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Instant confirmation
★ 5.0 (2) • 100+ booked
€ 4.99
€ 5.15
Kyoto: Craft Your Own Ninja Weapon/ Shōgun Mask Workshop
Kyoto

Kyoto: Craft Your Own Ninja Weapon/ Shōgun Mask Workshop

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English guided
Up to 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.9 (58) • 600+ booked
From € 85.85
Shiga | Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine Observatory/Kyoto Arashiyama Sanzen-in Temple, Mangetsuji Temple Floating Hall, Omihachiman Day Trip | Departure from Osaka/Kyoto
Summer deal
Klook's choice
Tours • From Osaka, Kyoto

Shiga | Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine Observatory/Kyoto Arashiyama Sanzen-in Temple, Mangetsuji Temple Floating Hall, Omihachiman Day Trip | Departure from Osaka/Kyoto

Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (120) • 1K+ booked
€ 44.79
30 off
Sale
MEET MAIKO: Meet-&-Greet, Maiko Show & Experience in Kyoto
Cultural experiences • Kyoto

MEET MAIKO: Meet-&-Greet, Maiko Show & Experience in Kyoto

English guided
Up to 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
★ 4.9 (7) • 200+ booked
€ 41.35

Where to stay in Mount Hiei

Kyoto Nanzenji Garden Ryokan Yachiyo Established in 1915
Hotels • Kyoto

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★ 4.3 (244)
From € 170.57
Biwako Ryokusuitei
Hotels • Otsu

Biwako Ryokusuitei

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★ 4.6 (590)
From € 190.37
€ 192.29
Kyoto Ohara Ryokan Seryo
Hotels • Kyoto

https://res.klook.com/image/upload/v1713240499/UED_new/PromoTag/StayPlus.png Kyoto Ohara Ryokan Seryo

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★ 4.8 (128)
From € 365.49
€ 369.17
Fufu Kyoto
Hotels • Kyoto

Fufu Kyoto

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From € 431.31
Hotel Okura Kyoto
Hotels • Kyoto

https://res.klook.com/image/upload/v1713240499/UED_new/PromoTag/StayPlus.png Hotel Okura Kyoto

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★ 4.7 (1,008)
From € 92.43
Ryokan KANADE
Hotels • Kyoto

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★ 4.7 (257)
From € 116.19
Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei
Hotels • Kyoto

https://res.klook.com/image/upload/v1713240499/UED_new/PromoTag/StayPlus.png Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei

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★ 4.8 (239)
From € 177.25
Yumotokan
Hotels • Otsu

Yumotokan

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★ 4.6 (640)
From € 177.08
Ryokan Sawaya Honten
Hotels • Kyoto

https://res.klook.com/image/upload/v1713240499/UED_new/PromoTag/StayPlus.png Ryokan Sawaya Honten

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★ 4.7 (531)
From € 115.50
SOLARIA Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier
Hotels • Kyoto

https://res.klook.com/image/upload/v1713240499/UED_new/PromoTag/StayPlus.png SOLARIA Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier

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★ 4.8 (1,022) • 50+ booked
From € 60.62
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
Hotels • Kyoto

https://res.klook.com/image/upload/v1713240499/UED_new/PromoTag/StayPlus.png The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

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★ 4.8 (253)
From € 777.42
Minn Gion Sanjo
Hotels • Kyoto

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★ 4.6 (294)
From € 74.41

Restaurants near Mount Hiei

Nanzenji Junsei Traditional Tofu Kaiseki Cuisine - Kyoto
Food & dining • Kyoto

Nanzenji Junsei Traditional Tofu Kaiseki Cuisine - Kyoto

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Free cancellation
★ 4.5 (261) • 9K+ booked
€ 27.79
Yamabana Heihachidiya in Kyoto - Centuries old Japanese Traditional Kaiseki
Food & dining • Kyoto

Yamabana Heihachidiya in Kyoto - Centuries old Japanese Traditional Kaiseki

Free cancellation
★ 4.8 (21) • 900+ booked
€ 25.25
Kichisen in Kyoto Gion - Michelin Three Starred Kaiseki Restaurant
Food & dining • Kyoto

Kichisen in Kyoto Gion - Michelin Three Starred Kaiseki Restaurant

★ 4.4 (15) • 1K+ booked
€ 122.35
【Michelin One-Star Kaiseki Cuisine】Shimogamosaro - Shimogamo Saryo (Kyoto Main Store)
Food & dining • Kyoto

【Michelin One-Star Kaiseki Cuisine】Shimogamosaro - Shimogamo Saryo (Kyoto Main Store)

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Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
€ 84.39
KangaAN - Fucha Cooking in Kyoto
Food & dining • Kyoto

KangaAN - Fucha Cooking in Kyoto

Free cancellation
€ 49.89
One-Michelin star Toku (Kaiseki, Washoku) in Kyoto
Food & dining • Kyoto

One-Michelin star Toku (Kaiseki, Washoku) in Kyoto

Free cancellation
€ 147.40
Tempura Endo Okazaki Residence - Tempura in Kyoto
Food & dining • Kyoto

Tempura Endo Okazaki Residence - Tempura in Kyoto

Free cancellation
50+ booked
€ 46.65
€ 48.29
【Michelin Star French Cuisine】Kyoto Dominique Bouchet Kyoto Le RESTAURANT
Food & dining • Kyoto

【Michelin Star French Cuisine】Kyoto Dominique Bouchet Kyoto Le RESTAURANT

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Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
€ 188.85
Dominique Bouchet Kyoto Le Teppanyaki - Teppanyaki in Kyoto, Higashiyama
€ 196.30
Michelin Starred Kaiseki Mizuki  at Ritz Carlton Kyoto
Food & dining • Kyoto

Michelin Starred Kaiseki Mizuki at Ritz Carlton Kyoto

Free cancellation
100+ booked
€ 112.15

More to explore

Eizan Electric Railway 1-Day Pass “Ee Kippu” & Kurama Onsen Set Ticket
Train tickets • Kyoto

Eizan Electric Railway 1-Day Pass “Ee Kippu” & Kurama Onsen Set Ticket

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Instant confirmation
★ 5.0 (2) • 50+ booked
From € 13.69

Mount Hiei Reviews

4.9 /5
12K+ reviews
Read all reviews
JHONG ********
21 Jun
The itinerary was very fulfilling, and every scenic spot was beautiful. One part of the trip involved taking the Eizan Electric Railway to Kurama Station, which was a very special experience!
1+
Klook 用戶
21 Jun
The overall itinerary was great. Tour guide Liu also gave a brief introduction to the history, and you could ask him any specific questions you had, in both Chinese and English. It seems to snow at the observation deck in winter, so you might consider coming then. If it doesn't rain in summer, the scenery is also beautiful. I recommend it for those who enjoy taking photos.
Klook User
21 Jun
Excellent experience to bike around local temples and world heritage spots around the Gion area. Miki our guide, adopted our itinerary based on our interest and limited time. It was nice to see some of sites before the 9 am rush of tourist. This e-bike is perfect for those who comfortable riding bikes in city traffic and some uphill climbs. We had a beautiful experience visiting the sites in the this part of Kyoto.
2+
Klook用戶
20 Jun
Our tour guide, Roman Liu, was incredibly kind and helpful. He often took photos for us and recommended great spots for pictures. He managed the time perfectly, ensuring everyone in the group was on time for the bus. We visited four attractions in one day and took many beautiful photos at each stop.
li *******
19 Jun
I wholeheartedly recommend Zhang Yanjin! This day trip to Kyoto's Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Okochi Sanso Villa, Kifune Shrine, and Sanzen-in Temple was an absolutely fulfilling experience, completely stress-free and rejuvenating. The various attractions are quite far apart, and public transportation transfers can be a real hassle. Thanks to Yanjin's excellent pre-planning of the optimal route, our time management was perfect. We never felt rushed, nor did we waste time waiting, allowing ample time at each spot for photos and leisurely exploration. At Sanzen-in Temple, he provided detailed explanations of its history and guided us to admire the moss-covered stone Buddha statues and garden scenery. At Kifune Shrine, he taught us how to experience the unique water fortune-telling and showed us the best spots for photos of the vermilion staircase lanterns. In the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Okochi Sanso Villa, he led us away from the crowds to find quiet, picturesque corners, and even shared tips on local hidden culinary gems and things to avoid. He is incredibly gentle and patient, meticulously answering all our questions about routes, photography, and shopping. He drives smoothly and carefully, taking thoughtful care of everyone throughout the trip, with no rushing or hidden costs. This one-day tour connected ancient temples in the mountains with secret bamboo groves, offering a relaxed and comfortable itinerary without needing to plan anything ourselves. If you want a stress-free trip to Kyoto, I highly recommend Zhang Yanjin. I'll definitely book him again for my next Kansai trip!
1+
Chow ******
19 Jun
This day trip was excellent and very comfortable throughout. Our guide, Peter, was helpful in resolving issues. The only downside was the bad weather, which obscured the views. It was very convenient to be able to take our large luggage from Kyoto and drop it off in Osaka, saving us the hassle of carrying bags and transferring trains.
Klook客路用户
18 Jun
This was a fantastic small group tour. Our guide, Ai, was very thoughtful in her arrangements and managed the time perfectly. Everything went smoothly throughout the trip. At Sanzen-in Temple, she even considered our lunch time and extended our stay by 10 minutes, allowing everyone to leisurely experience Kyoto in the height of summer.
kristina *****
18 Jun
Ellen was fantastic. communication was superb which is very important to me.. she did a fantastic job and with all of her communication everyone got back to the bus on time, especially with her directions for each stop… she is probably the best tour guide I have had.. she is the best.

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FAQs about Mount Hiei

Is Mount Hiei worth visiting?

Why is Mount Hiei important?

What is the folklore of Mount Hiei?

What to know about Mount Hiei

Mount Hiei is a sacred mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, right on the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. You'll find the Enryaku-ji Temple grounds here, a UNESCO World Heritage, group of temples and buildings that have played a huge role in Japanese Buddhism and culture over the years. More than its stunning views of Kyoto, the temple is also famous for its "marathon monks," who take on the incredible 1,000-day challenge called "kaihogyo" in their quest for enlightenment. Nowadays, people come to Mount Hiei to check out its religious spots, take in nature, and catch some amazing views.
Mount Hiei, Ichijoji Idegadanichosenguchi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-0000, Japan

Must-Visit Attractions in Mount Hiei

Enryaku-ji Temple

Enryaku-ji or Enryakuji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the main temple of the legendary warrior monk Benkei. Uncover the deep history and cultural importance of this iconic temple on Mount Hiei. Back in its prime, Enryakuji had around 3,000 sub-temples and housed thousands of monks.

Hiking Trails

Go on a hiking adventure through the forests of Mount Hiei. Follow the Kyoto Isshu Trail to go up the mountain, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and a chance to unwind with nature.

Sakamoto Cable Car

Experience a scenic ride on the Sakamoto Cable Car, where you can enjoy panoramic views as you go down from Mount Hiei to Otsu City in Shiga prefecture. Enjoy a convenient and picturesque journey back to Kyoto.

Garden Museum Hiei

Located on a mountaintop with stunning views of Kyoto and Lake Biwa, this garden art museum is a must-visit. Explore six beautiful gardens inspired by Provence, France, including an aromatic garden, a rose garden, a lily pond, and a flower garden, that can remind you of Monet's home. With 100,000 flowers blooming year-round, you're in for a visual treat. Plus, see the museum's highlight: ceramic tile replicas of 12 famous impressionist paintings by artists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas.

Tips for Your Mount Hiei Visit

When is the best time to visit Mount Hiei?

Plan your visit to Mount Hiei during the spring or autumn seasons to enjoy pleasant weather and stunning natural scenery. Avoid the summer crowds and winter chill for a more peaceful experience.

How to go to Mount Hiei?

Reach Mount Hiei by toll road for hikers or take the Eizan Cable Car or Sakamoto Cable Car for a scenic journey to the top. Regular buses connect the attractions on the mountain, providing convenient transportation for visitors. Alternatively, you can take the train from JR Kyoto Station.

How long is the hike up Mount Hiei?

It takes an 11.1-mile round-trip trail to Mount Hiei near Kyoto. Known for its challenging terrain, it typically takes around 6 hours and 4 minutes to finish. Perfect for hiking, running, and leisurely walks, you'll enjoy a peaceful journey with minimal crowds along the way.