The 424-meter rugged Takao mountain is 5 kilometers northeast from downtown Hiroshima, and stands on the border of Hiroshima City and Fuchu Town. Mikumarikyo Valley, which is situated at the foot of the mountain and the 682-meter neighboring Mt. Gosaso, is in the north of Fuchu Town.

Fuchu is surrounded by Hiroshima City, and uniquely it is a detached town of Aki County. In ancient times, government offices were called "kokuga" or "fuchu". In the 7th century, a Japanese constitutional form of government was introduced, modeled after that of China so that the land and people were put under the direct control of the state. This town is said to be a place where a government office of Aki Province was. It prospered as a center of transportation and an Aki Province rest station for travelers, because the Sanyodo highway passed through the town.
Mikumarikyo Valley has been attracting a number of hikers all year round, but in recent times the natural functions of the forest had been reduced greatly because of being ravaged by pine bark beetles. So this area was developed as one of the Living Environment and Woodland Conservation projects by Hiroshima Prefecture in order to restore the forest to health and recreate a secure and pleasant landscape. Now Mikumarikyo has been reborn and has become a beautiful forest park.

This hike will start at Yaga Station on the Geibi Line, from which we will make a 1.5-kilometer walk to an old temple named Doryuji, then a 2-kilometer ascent to Mt.Takao. Doryuji Temple was said to be built in the Heian period, and its Buddhist image of Yakushi-nyorai, a guardian of health, has writing on it in sumi or Indian ink that says it was made in 1201.

The panoramic view of the entire Hiroshima City from the summit of the mountain is really breathtaking.

After enjoying it for a while, go down to Mikumarikyo Valley.

�ŸGetting there

Take a train on the JR Geibi Line from Hiroshima Station and get off at Yaga Station. From the station, walk east for 30 minutes to Doryuji Temple. From there a 1.5-hour ascent to the mountain top.

�ŸSuggested Schedule

Hiroshima Station(9:29)===(Geibi Line)===Yaga Station(9:35)---

----Doryuji Temple(10:10)----Mt. Takao(11:45-13:30)---

----Mikumarikyo---(14:00-14:30)---Enomiya(15:30)===

===(Hiroden Bus)===Hiroshima(16:00)