2024 Minoh Eight Stone Altars
(Hatten Ishikura) Walk Trial

Japanese

(Updated 27 December 2023)

"Minoh Eight Stone Altars (Hatten Ishikura) Walk Trial" will be held again this year! 
Set in the beautiful mountains of Minoh, this is a walking tour* where you can visit Stone Altars (Ishikura) from the Kamakura period. On the day, Minoh volunteer tourist guides will explain the history and nature surrounding each of the stone altars. You can select a course that suits you (the "2 Stone Altar Course" goes to two stone altars, and the "4 Stone Altar Course" goes to four altars).

*Tours available in Japanese only.

Online Application Form

The online application form for the event is available between 9 January (Tuesday) - 9 February (Friday) (External link) (Japanese only)

If you apply using the online application form, a confirmation email will be sent to your email address.

If you do not get the confirmation email, please check your spam folder. 

If it is not in your spam folder, the email address entered in the application may be incorrect, so please re-apply using the online application form. 

Event Information

Date and time：10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday 3 March 2024

(Morning: Reception from 9:00 a.m., depart at 10:00 a.m. / Afternoon: Reception from 11:30 a.m., depart at 12:30 p.m.)

*The end time may change depending on the group.

Participants: 300 people (chosen at random if there are too many applications)
(Breakdown) 100 people for 4 Stone Altar Course, 200 people for 2 Stone Altar Course

Age restriction: Elementary school grade 4 and over (Elementary school students must have a caregiver) *Elementary school students can only participate on the 2 Altar Course

Participant fee: \500 per person 

Application period: Tuesday 9 January - Friday 9 February

Results announced: Monday 19 February *regardless of the result, results will be sent by email or phone (if email not provided)

Course: 

4 Stone Altar Course

Katsuo-ji Temple (Start) ⇒ Zōchōten Stone Altar ⇒ Daiitoku-Myōō Stone Altar ⇒ Shirami Jizō Statue ⇒ Gundari-Myōō Stone Altar ⇒ Jikokuten Stone Altar ⇒ Katsuo-ji Temple (Goal)

*Approx. 7.3 km, 3 hr 50 min. (time including guided tour)

*This is a long course, so if you do not walk often, we recommend the 2 Stone Altar course!

2 Stone Altar Course

 Katsuo-ji Temple (Start) ⇒ Jikokuten Stone Altar ⇒ Gundari-Myōō Stone Altar ⇒ Katsuo-ji Temple (Goal)
*Approx. 3 km, 1 hr 30 min. (time including guided tour)

(*the course route may be different depending on the group)

Access

Reception location: Katsuo-ji Temple Entrance (Address: 〒562-0021 Aomadani, Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture)
 

If coming by free shuttle bus (if you wish to use the free bus service, please check the reception time of the course you are taking and apply)

A　Minoh Station > Katsuo-ji Temple: 8:10 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

B　Minoh Station > Katsuo-ji Temple: 10:40 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

C　Aomadani > Katsuo-ji Temple: 8:25 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. 

D　Aomadani > Katsuo-ji Temple: 10:55 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

E　Senri-Chuo Station > Katsuo-ji Temple: 8:10 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

F　Senri-Chuo Station > Katsuo-ji Temple: 10:40 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
 

Return Bus Times

● Katsuo-ji Temple > Aomadani > Minoh Station

・12:30 p.m. - 1:05 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.

・1:00 p.m. - 1:35 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

・2:30 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.

・3:45 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. - 4:35 p.m.

・4:30 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
 

● Katsuo-ji Temple > Senri-Chuo Station

・12:30 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.

・1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

・2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.

・3:45 p.m. - 4:35 p.m.

・4:30 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
 

If coming by car

There are free parking spaces at the reception area.
If the free parking spaces are full, please use the Katsuo-ji Temple parking lot. In that case, you will be required to pay the parking fee.

Flyer (Japanese only)

Download Flyer (Japanese only)
 

(External link)

This event is subsidized by the Sports Promotion Lottery Grant.