A Foggy Day on Mount Ibuki (But We’ll Be Back)

Yesterday, we headed up Mount Ibuki with high hopes of catching those sweeping views of Lake Biwa. It was me, my wife, my mother-in-law, and her beagle, Chappie. We thought it would be the perfect little escape into nature. And while the experience didn’t turn out quite the way we expected, it was still one we won’t forget.

As we entered the driveway leading up to the parking lot, we were handed brochures and entry tickets (the entry fee was ¥3,400). That’s when we learned that dogs aren’t allowed on the summit trail. It’s a protected area with rare mountain flowers, herbs, and alpine plants, so Chappie had to sit this one out. My mother-in-law stayed back with him, and the two of them enjoyed the mountain air and views from the parking area.

Meanwhile, my wife and I continued the hike up the summit trail. Right from the start, we were greeted by dense fog. We could barely see a few meters ahead. The whole mountain was wrapped in mist, which actually gave it a mysterious, quiet kind of atmosphere. We figured the skies might clear as we climbed, but nope—the fog stayed with us most of the way up. Still, the temperature was perfect for hiking—around 25ºC—and the breeze kept everything feeling fresh.

Just before we reached the top, the clouds parted for maybe two minutes, and we finally caught a glimpse of Lake Biwa. It was beautiful… and then it was gone again, swallowed by the fast-moving mist.

Even though we didn’t get the big scenic views, the trail itself was full of beauty. The wildflowers blooming along the way reminded us of our hikes in Davos. It had that same raw, alpine feel. And funnily enough, there was a little hut near the summit that looked just like a Swiss chalet—turns out it was actually a public toilet, but a very scenic one!

I had brought my drone, thinking I’d capture some aerial footage of the landscape—but I didn’t end up flying it. There were too many people around to fly safely, and with the fog that thick, I couldn’t maintain proper visual line of sight. No regrets though—safety always comes first, and there’ll be another chance.

One thing that really caught my attention was how packed the parking lot was with campers. At first I thought it was just a coincidence, but after reading through the brochures we received, we found out that Mount Ibuki allows overnight camper stays on certain dates. That really lit a spark. Imagine watching the sunset, stargazing in the night sky, and waking up to sunrise at the summit. That’s exactly the kind of experience we’d love to come back for.

So, while the clear skies didn’t show up for us this time, we still came away with something meaningful. Peace, fresh air, blooming trails, and the excitement of a “next time.” We’ll definitely return—maybe with a camper—and hopefully under starry skies. Chappie will be waiting for us at base camp, of course.

Here’s one of the rare moments the fog gave nearly way at the Western viewpoint: