This weekend was mostly cloudy. Although it didn’t rain, we couldn’t enjoy a clear blue sky. While gazing at the cloudy sky, I went hiking up nearby Mount Katsuragi for the first time in a while. I usually take the Tengu Valley trail, but this time, I ascended via the North Ridge route.
Down in the lowlands, the season for hydrangeas is almost over, but up on the mountain, some buds were still present, and others were blooming beautifully.
The Katsuragi Mountain Ropeway is undergoing regular maintenance and will be suspended from June 14th to 30th.
I was surprised to find the parking lot empty, but then I realized it was due to the ropeway suspension.
Along the way, I spotted a strikingly red mushroom that caught my eye. I snapped a photo, thinking it might be the famous fire mushroom. However, after researching when I got back, it seems it might have been an Akatake mushroom due to its slightly different shape.
I also saw lovely Sasayuri and Hotarubukuro flowers blooming along the trail.
There were many birds chirping, and a Eurasian Jay was noisily calling nearby. It kept loudly saying “come here, come here,” so when I responded with “I’m coming!”, it suddenly became quiet, which I found amusing.
Try this out if you ever hear a Eurasian Jay calling.
While the azalea season is notoriously crowded, the summit was much quieter than usual on this day. Normally, I would quickly head back down, but feeling relaxed, I decided to visit the Katsuragi Plateau Lodge, a place I hadn’t stopped by for lunch before.
The lodge is famous for its Yamato Duck hot pot. I remembered how delicious it was when I ate it during a New Year’s party stay, so I went in to have the duck rice bowl set for lunch. Unfortunately, maybe due to the ropeway’s suspension, they were not serving duck dishes… such a disappointment.
The first sunrise seen from Mount Katsuragi is also beautiful and highly recommended. On New Year’s Day this year, there was a slight snowfall, and it was somewhat cloudy, but many people, shivering in the cold, reverently welcomed the first sunrise of the year with a refreshing feeling.
From the summit, the view is outstanding, with the Yamato Sanzan visible towards Nara, and on the Osaka side, you can see the city’s buildings, Osaka Bay, Awaji Island, Rokko, and more. It’s a comforting ‘home mountain’ that relaxes me every time I climb it.”
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