Written by Jane Pipkin
Translating to “Dog Barking Mountain”, Inunakisan is a sacred mountain in Izumisano. The name comes from an old legend about Emperor Uda’s faithful dog that saved his life.
The mountain is also known to be an important site for Shugendo — a Japanese tradition that blends mountain worship with ascetic practices.
Many people come to hike Inunakisan, with plenty of great spots to stop by along the way. These include the Shugendo Archives Museum, the Loyal Dog’s Grave, and, by far the most significant, Shipporyuji (the mountainside temple). There are 48 waterfalls, seven of which are especially famous.
The area is also known for its hot springs.
Fun fact: One of them, Yama-no-Yu, was discovered in 1959, by one Takahara Takefumi and his father. The facility is still owned by the family today.
How to get there
From Nankai Izumisano, JR Kumatori, or JR Hineno Station, you can catch the Nankai bus and get off at Inunakisan bus stop. It takes anywhere between 16 to 35 minutes and costs between ¥430 to ¥520 (depending on your departure point). There is also a car park on site.
