Shishidome Valley

Shishidome Valley sits about 10 minutes by car from Higashi Katsura Station and follows the Shishidome River through a narrow gorge with camping and fishing facilities at the bottom. The sound of moving water carries through the whole walk. Autumn brings strong color: maples, zelkova, and beech turn red and yellow along the slopes. From the crest of Nijumagari Pass, clear days offer a view of Mount Fuji. The trailhead for Mishotai Mountain, one of Japan's top 200 named peaks at 1,682 meters and a site sacred to both Shinto and Buddhism, begins at the base of the valley. Summit to trailhead takes about 5 hours.