Murouji Hiking
 
Star-rating: 1
 
Date & Time (duration): May 3 (Friday), about 7+ hours (hiking time about 4 to 5 hours)
 
Location: Murou Temple (室生寺) in Nara Prefecture
 
Contact: Joerg Brendle, joergbrendle[at]gmail.com
 
Introduction: Murouji is one of my favorite temples. It's hidden in the forest on a steep slope in the mountains east of Nara. Some of its buildings, including one of the most beautiful pagodas in Japan, are very old, and it boasts famous early Buddhist sculpture.

Murouji is also well-known for the Shakunage (シャクナゲ・石楠花・rhododendron) blossom, and I hope we'll be there in the right time!!!

Description of the event/course: We'll take the Nara Koutsuu Wakuwaku bus at Haibara (榛原) Station South Exit Bus Terminal bound for Sonimurayakuba (曽爾村役場) at 10:35 am and get off at Takai Bus Stop (330 yen). From there we hike past Butsuryuu Temple (佛隆寺), which has a very old cherry tree (we'll be too late for the blossom, though), to Karato Pass (唐戸峠). This should take a bit more than one hour. We'll have lunch somewhere around the pass. Another hour should bring us down to Murou Temple (室生寺), where we'll spend some time. In the afternoon, a further two-hour walk will bring us back to Murouguchi-Oono (室生口大野) Station. (If we are either very tired or take very long to see the temple, an alternative is to go back by bus from Murouji to Murouguchi-Oono.)

This is an easy hike with relatively little elevation difference.

Meeting point and time: Kintetsu Haibara Station (榛原駅), South Exit, 10:25 am
please be in time because we take the bus at 10:35!
 
Transportation: From Tsuruhashi Station on the loop line, take the Kintetsu train. (750 yen)
train schedule: 1) leave Tsuruhashi at 9:13, arr. Haibara 10:05. bound for Aoyamachou.
2) leave Tsuruhashi at 9:33, arr. Haibara 10:26. bound for Isuzugawa.
 
Requirements/What to bring: Hiking Shoes/Boots, Rainwear, Hat, Sunscreen;
Drinking Water, Lunch (Bento), Snacks;
 
Deadline for sign-up: Wednesday May 1
 
Cancellation policy: cancelled if the weather forecast is more than 60 % of rain
 
Special note: When you sign up, please let me know your mobile phone number