Climbing Mt. Kunitsuka is recommended for families with children! We will explain the charm of the mountain and ASPIATamaki at the foot!

Article production / Mie Travel Climbing Club Hanachiro

▼Table of contents

• The charm of Mt. Kunitsuka
• Trailhead (access)
• Start climbing!
• Old Kokokuji temple ruins
• the top
• ASPIATamaki
• Furusato Aji Kobo Agri
• Kobo Onsen
• Climb Mt. Kunizuka, which is filled with the charms of Tamaki!

   

The charm of Mt. Kunitsuka

In this article, we will first introduce the reasons why we recommend climbing Mt. Kunitsuka out of the many mountains in Mie Prefecture, starting with three attractive points!

Attraction 1: The climbing route is the historic old Kokokuji temple approach

Attraction 2: Even beginners can easily climb mountains!

Attraction 3: ASPIATamaki, where you can enjoy spectacular flower fields, hot springs, and gourmet food at the trailhead

Trailhead (access)

Spot 1: Kobo Stone

At the trailhead, a gigantic rock called ``Kobo Seki'' was enshrined.

For a time it sank to the bottom of the river, but in 1992 it was discovered for the first time in about 200 years and since raised, it has been worshiped and enshrined at its current location.

The hot spring at ASPIATamaki was named ``Kobo Onsen'' because a hot spring also erupted at the same time as this megalith was discovered.

Start climbing!

Spot 2: Legendary whetstone of Takeru Nihon

After a while after you start climbing, you will see the ``Legendary Whetstone of Takeru Nihon''.

It is said that an ancient hero from the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki used this stone to sharpen his fallen sword.

After passing the whetstone, the real climbing begins.

You will often be walking on slippery rocks, so take regular breaks as you climb.

I thought my daughter was asking for a break a lot, but she was asking for a snack.

Seeing my daughter eat all the snacks in the early stages made me realize that I need to pace myself not only when climbing but also when taking breaks (lol)

Spot 3: The only viewing spot

Although the sky was cloudy that day, I was still able to see all the way to Ise Bay.

Up until this point, I could only see the inside of the mountain, so I finally felt like I was actually climbing.

For my daughter, who is in the year-round nursery school class, there are some rocky areas where she has to use both hands, but she still climbs up them without any difficulty.

On the way, I realized that my daughter was not moving at all, so I went to check on her, and found her enthusiastically collecting acorns.

They seemed very happy to see so many acorns lying on the mountain trail, and for some reason, every time I found one, I ended up picking them up endlessly (lol).

As we reach the latter half of the mountain trail, we start playing in various ways.

I couldn’t help but grin at the cute face drawn on the stump (lol)

Old Kokokuji temple ruins

Although we went through many twists and turns on this climb, we finally arrived near the ruins of the old Kokokuji Temple near the summit!

Surrounded by ferns that suddenly appeared, the ruins of the former Kokokushuji Temple had a somewhat magical atmosphere.

Kokokuji Temple, which was located in this location until the mid-Showa period, has a history of over 1,400 years.

Although a portion of Kokokuji Temple has now been moved to WataraiTown, the old Kokokuji temple grounds, which still stand quietly, are also a famous spot for viewing the autumn leaves.

the top

After a short walk from the ruins of the old Kokokuzakuji Temple, we arrived at the top!

My daughter also had a great time posing next to the 414 meter altitude sign (lol), probably out of a sense of accomplishment.

From the top, you can see the mountain range on WataraiTown side.

The time required to get here was 70 minutes from the mountain trail.

My daughter's climbing pace was good, but it took her longer than planned because she had to stop for snacks and pick up acorns.

We expressed our gratitude to the Jizo statue at the top of the mountain and decided to descend the mountain.

The descent is the same route and takes about 30 minutes.

My daughter was looking forward to shopping at ASPIATamaki at the foot of the mountain, so she was able to get down the mountain very smoothly (lol)

ASPIATamaki

When climbing Mt. Kunitsuka, you should definitely stop by ASPIATamaki, a complex facility located right next to the trailhead that combines hot springs, a direct-to-farm market, and a park.

At ASPIATamaki, the cosmos field that blooms in autumn is a spectacular sight.

The best time to see it is usually from mid-October to November, and it is crowded with families and photographers every year.

Here, white swings and cute character objects will appear in the cosmos field.

Additionally, metal walkways are usually installed to make it easier to walk through the cosmos fields.

You can walk through the cosmos field, so you can enjoy the beautiful flowers as if you were buried in the cosmos!

At ASPIATamaki, you can see not only autumn cosmos but also
winter illumination
Spring cherry blossoms and rape blossoms
Lotus field in early summer
summer sunflowers
There are so many charms that match the seasons!

Please come and visit one of the most famous flower spots in Mie Prefecture!

Furusato Aji Kobo Agri

Don't you get hungry after climbing Mt. Kunitsuka?

So, we'll introduce you to some shops where you can enjoy delicious local food that you'll want to stop by after climbing!

A store you should definitely stop by is Furusato Aji Kobo Agri, which sells agricultural and livestock products from TamakiTown directly from the farm.
Here you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, freshly baked bread, etc., but one of the most popular items is Tamaki Pork, a branded meat from TamakiTown.

The "Tamagusuku pork" that was served at IseShimaSummit luncheon and became a hot topic is high-quality pork that has been carefully selected according to strict standards, and Furusato Aji Kobo Agri handles everything from purchasing, processing, and selling the pork. I'm doing it.

My children also love Tamaki pork, and when we come here, sausages and meat buns are always in the shopping cart (lol).

Furusato Aji Kobo Agri also offers handmade ham, sausage, and bread making experiences, and the store also has a ``Barbecue House'' where you can enjoy Tamaki pork barbecue and shabu-shabu.

Kobo Onsen

If you want to relieve the fatigue of mountain climbing, we recommend Kobo Onsen inside ASPIATamaki.

This hot spring, named after the discovery of a megalith associated with Kobo Daishi in Mt. Kunitsuka, is a hot spring that is crowded with many enthusiasts, with 2 million bathers reaching 2 million in 2021.

In the Fureai-Fureainoyakata where there is a hot spring, there is also a street piano named "Onsen Piano"!

Before the hot spring, my daughter played the piano, which she had just started learning.

Towels and shampoo are also sold at the hot spring reception, so you can enjoy the hot spring even if you arrive empty-handed.

Climb Mt. Kunizuka, which is filled with the charms of Tamaki!

Minimal stamp rally

in conclusion

Thank you for watching until the end.

I will continue to post articles as part of the Mie Travel Climbing Club, so please keep reading.