After leaving Kurama Temple, many people hike over the mountain to Kibune, a lovely resort area. The hike is not that difficult, but you should definitely NOT attempt it in high-heels, like one woman I saw! As you walk through the deep forest, you will suddenly come to small shrine and temple buildings, and more large beautiful cedar trees. For hundreds of years, this mysterious forest was home to ascetics, who trained themselves here, far away from the hustle and bustle of life in Kyoto. This mountain is also where master swordsmanship and samurai Minamoto Yoshitsune learned the art of war, and where Mikao Usui, founder of Reiki, developed his healing art in the early 1920s. And don't forget the goblins!
The Beauty of Kurama - 3
Surprises along the mountain trail to Kibune
