Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

It’s just past 5 a.m., and the house is quiet—but not for long. In a few hours, my wife, my mother-in-law, our beagle Chappie, and I will be heading out to Mount Ibuki by car. This trip has been on my mind for quite some time.

I often catch glimpses of Mount Ibuki from afar here in Gifu. Especially in the colder months, the snow-capped peak stands out like a distant dream—one that felt close enough to touch, but just out of reach. I remember suggesting this trip about a year ago, but my mother-in-law advised against it. She said the mountain is often closed off due to lingering snow, and that the best time to go is when its wildflowers are in full bloom.

And that day might just be today.

We’ve picked a beautiful window—mid-summer, when the mountain is known to explode into color. If the timing is right, we’ll see flower fields stretching across the summit plateau. My camera is packed, and my drones are charged. I’ll be capturing both the trail and the views from above—hoping for wide panoramas of the mountain itself, the surrounding ridgelines, and perhaps even a clear glimpse of Lake Biwa in the distance.

We’re considering taking the Ibukiyama Driveway, which winds nearly all the way to the summit. From the parking area, it’s only about 10 to 30 minutes on foot to reach the peak, depending on the trail we choose. That should give us plenty of time to wander, take in the views, and let Chappie enjoy the fresh mountain air.

If you want a taste of what we might see today, I highly recommend watching this breathtaking video by River Runs Through Japan. It captures the beauty and scale of Mount Ibuki perfectly:

I’ll post photos, drone footage, and impressions soon after the trip. For now, I’ll sit with a cup of coffee and Chappie, listen to the birds waking up outside, and feel the quiet excitement.