World’s No. 1 in Shiga Prefecture

Spring, summer, autumn and winter. Japan is a country where you can enjoy the changing seasons.

It is also known that you can enjoy snow in winter in Japan.

Niseko in Hokkaido, in particular, has powder snow due to its topography, and is visited by many skiers from all over the world.

By the way, did you know that Shiga Prefecture has a world record for snow?

It holds the Guinness World Record for snowfall.

It was February 1927, and the amount of snow on Mt. Ibuki in northern Shiga Prefecture reached 11.82 meters, a record that still stands today. Its height is equivalent to the 4th floor of a building.

There is a driveway on Mt. Ibuki, but it is closed in the winter when there is a lot of snow, so it is best to visit from spring to autumn. Famous for its plants and minerals, Mt. Ibuki is very popular for hiking during the spring the autumn season. It is also known for its 280 kinds of medicinal herbs, and in the spring you can enjoy the colorful flower gardens. There are many restaurants and souvenir shops on the top, and you can enjoy eating and shopping while admiring the magnificent scenery.

In summer, there are days when the driveway is open all night, and you can enjoy the sunrise from the parking lot.

A car is convenient, but if you go by train from Kyoto, get off at Nagahama Station on the Biwako Line and take a bus to “Ibuki Tozanguchi” in about 45 minutes. (Note that the number of buses is not many.)

If you walk from the foot of the mountain to the top, it takes about 7 hours round trip from the trailhead near Sannomiya Shrine. It’s cold at the top even in summer, so don’t forget to bring warm clothes. There are lots of hard areas to walk, let’s wear shoes that are more than light climbing shoes.