Spooky in the fog - Mt Yakebitai

Hike date: September 12, 2026

I did this climb straight after Mt Iwasuge. In fact, Yakebitai was my main target today as it was the only major peak at Shiga Kogen I had yet to summit. But with a drive of more than 100 km, the 2-hour return trip to the summit didn't really justify the long trip. The trailhead was only 5 minutes in the car from Iwasuge and I sprang out of my car immediately to begin the short hike.

There's nothing quite so forlorn as out-of-season ski resorts, and this is what I had to walk through at the beginning of my hike. It was a bit spooky among the abandoned buildings and unmoving lifts, especially with the fog starting to close in again. After a brief trek up a steep forest path, the trail merged with the ski fields - broad slopes now carpeted with wildflowers. In no time I was a the summit, which certainly did not look like anything I was expecting. I was so busy looking at the atmospheric pond I completely missed the summit marker.

After a quick look round, I headed back down the now grassy slopes convinced I was going to meet one of the many bears in the area. I didn't.

Click here for more information about Mt Yakebitai.

Torii gate near Yakebitai summit

Finally found it

Trailhead at the closed hotel car park

Short, steep climb through the forest

Wildflowers on the ski slope

First blue sky of the day, but it didn't last long

More wildflowers

Hiking up the ski slope

The spooky summit pond