Kurama in December okay?

I notice the link for Kurama-dera on this website says it's closed from mid-December to Feb.

We'll were hoping to visit there on around 23 or 24 of December so just wanted to confirm whether or not the trip would still be worth it?

Congratulations to your marriage!

What is closed in the winter season is the museum （霊宝殿）.

http://www.kuramayama.net/siseki/21reihouden.html

Honestly though I have visited Kuramadera several times, I have not noticed there is a museum. When I went there I always climbed up to Okunoin and then walked down to Kibune. In other words, I recognized Kurama-Kibune as a hiking course. I think this is true for most of the locals. So, if you want to feel rural mountain area in Kyoto and enjoy hiking, Kuramadera is open throughout the year.

Enjoy your trips!

One more thing.

If you go to Kurama by train, please catch "Kirara" train. It has large windows to the roof top and you can see the scenery very well. You do not need to pay extra charge.

http://eizandensha.co.jp/densya/daiya/kokuchi/henkou/diahenkou.htm#kir...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eiden_900_Series_01.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlZ4LyxxBBM

Thanks so much for the feedback!!

Sorry - one last question. Are there plenty of those trains and do you know if they run very regularly throughout the day. Do they require booking, as opposed to the other trains?

Timetable of Kirara train on weekdays. Black mark denotes it is not Kirara.

http://eizandensha.co.jp/densya/daiya/time023/kirara-week.pdf

Timetable of Kirara train on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

http://eizandensha.co.jp/densya/daiya/time023/kirara-holi.pdf

Top row 出町柳 is Demachiyanagi terminal while bottom row 鞍馬 is Kurama (just in front of Kurama dera).

Enjoy your trip!

Sorry,

wrong

Black mark denotes it is not Kirara.

correct

Black mark denotes it is not Kirara on Wednesdays nad Thursdays.

Do they require booking?

No. You can not reserve your seat. If you want good seat you should wait in a queue. But this might be easy since December is not a high season for Kurama.

Thanks again!

Do you know if the kirara train stops at Kibune? Is the hike from Kibune to Kurama (with soak in the hot spring at the end) worthwile? Or, perhaps just a visit to Kurama and Kurama-dera?

:)

1. Kirara train stops at Kibune (Kibuneguchi 貴船口).

2. I have not visited Kurama onsen, but the user reviews in Tripadvisor is favorable in general, and this is one of very rare onsens in Kyoto, it would be nice, especitally after the long walk in the winter air.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g298564-d548225-Reviews...

The price for open air bath is 1000 yen per person. You can use free shuttle bus service from Kurama station which operates at every train arrivals. You must take your own towels to save some money :-).

Enjoy hot spring in Kyoto!

Excellent - thanks!

This answer may be late for you, but I have hiked Kibune in winter and you should be aware, it is the trail between Kurama and Kibune that is closed. This does not stop you from visiting either place separately by train, and hiking around the area (eg. temples, onsen), but you cannot cross from Kurama to Kibune due to the icy path.