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Spring in Japan is not all about chasing cherry blossoms.
From March,the country is awash with a fantastic variety of floral colour and Mt Kutsuragi in Nara Prefecture is no exception.
In mid May the mountaintop is blanketed in a sea of cerise coloured tsutsuji (azaleas).
Mt Katsuragi is accessible from Osaka, Kyoto or Nara by car or if you choose to go by train you will need to take a short bus ride from the nearest station to the carpark at the base of the mountain.
The top of the mountain, with it’s sublime views and flowers is reached by foot (for hikers) or by a ropeway that runs from near the carpark.
Allow 2 to 3 hours at the top and try to avoid weekends when it can get very crowded.
Katsuragi Kogen Lodge offers hearty style accomodation and meals for hikers as well as refreshments for day trippers. Definitely worth it