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Routes : Asia : Japan : Kansai : Yama Jinja (Mountain Shrine)

Yama Jinja (Mountain Shrine)

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Climbing Sections:


About Yama Jinja (Mountain Shrine):

Great granite in the serpentine hills on the east side of Himeji. The main area has a small guide floating around, and there is a guide left at the base of the big wall in an alcove. There are many projects as well, and could shape up to have a lot of routes when finished. Rock is the same as nearby and more reknown Shosekiheki; Pockets, jugs and nubs, slabs and overhangs. The main wall runs the gamut of difficulty from the 5.8s of the right side up to 5.11s on the left, with everything in-between. The quality of rock is great. It has been a project of an Osaka crew, and is well-bolted, though I'd like to see them eventually put chains in at the top rather than rope anchors. Spring is best season.
Nearest town or city:
Directions: By train from Osaka: Take a shinkaisoku (S. Rapid) towards Himeji on the JR Kobe line. Transfer at Kakogawa to a local and get off at Himeji-Bessho. From here, look north to them thar yonder hills and you will see the rocks. The road heading north from the (2) Ni-go-sen highway (the big main road on the north side of the station) at the green pedestrian bridge a little ways to the west of the station leads up to it--probably a 15 minute walk. As the road curves left right at the first hill with a large cliff, head straight on the smaller road that forks off and follow it a short distance as it curves north to east. The rocks and cliffs with many boulders is your destination. You come to a small shrine (Yama Jinja) on your left hand side against the mountain. Here there is a trail heading up the mountain. After passing through some trees and brush, just as the trail is about to break out of the foliage, it forks. Take the left fork, which traverses along the west side of the hill, and you will soon find yourself at the main area. For more experienced climbers, or on a busy day, there is a very difficult-looking project wall, as well as some shorter beginner/intermediate routes on the east side of the hill that you can find your way to.
Latitude, Longitude: 34.82000, 134.75999
Access Issues: If you come by car you can park in a small dirt lot on the south side of the road across from a small, white city building below the trail. The side of the road should be okay, as well.
Camping: None
When to Climb:
Quantity of Climbs: Month