Top Page	Mountains, Valleys & Waterfalls
Mt. Hachigamine (430m)
Itosaki Town Mihara City
鉢ケ峰山 三原市 糸崎町
Map	A view from the top of Mt. Hachigamine.
Mt. Hachigamine, an upside-down-bowl-shaped mountain, stands behind Itosaki Shrine which is 1.5 kilometers east from JR Itozaki Station on the Sanyo Line. From the station walk to Itosaki Shrine which is one of the oldest shrines in Hiroshima Pref. In old times, an area of the surrounding shrine was called Nagai no Ura Cape. There is a well in the grounds of the shrine. According to the explanation on a stone slab by the well, the head of the village offered the water from the well to Empress Shingu, who lived in the third century, when her ship stopped at the cape (now near the south end of the grounds of the shrine). The shrine is said to have been founded in 727 and was dedicated to the Empress. From the west side of the shrine, a winding 1.4-kilometer paved road leads you to Miyama Park, and then take a 1.4-kilometer ascent to the top of the 430-meter Mt. Hachigamine. The beautiful view of the Inland Sea is fantastic. Take another trail to go down to Akaishi trailhead which is 2.5 kilometer east from Itosaki Shrine. On the way down stop at Kannonji-okunoin Temple which is situated on the eighth level of the mountain. A Buddhist saint, Kokuzou, who is enshrined in the temple, has been worshipped by local residents and is believed to give wisdom. The temple’s big festival is held on the second Sunday of April every year. The temple is crowded with about ten thousand worshippers on that day. Views of the cities of Mihara on the west side and Onomichi on the east side from the temple are enjoyable. Getting there: Take a train on the Sanyo Line at Hiroshima Station, and get off at Itozaki Station. Suggested schedule: Hiroshima Sta.(8:45)==(Sanyo Line)==Itozaki Sta.(10:05)--- ---Itosaki Shrine(10:30-10:40)---Miyama Park(11:10-11:20)--- ---Mt. Hachigamine (12:40-13:30)---Kannonji-okunoin(13:50-14:40)--- ---Akaishi bus stop (15:35)==(bus)==Itozaki Sta (15:42-15:57)== ==(Sanyo Line)==Hiroshima Sta.(17:15) *Train timetables may be subject to change. Note: To be safe, especially in winter, keep in mind not to go into the mountains alone, and be sure to go with a well-experienced hiker.