霊仙山避難小屋

Unstaffed emergency shelter at about 1,020m beside Kyozukayama on the ridge of Ryozenzan (1,084m), which rises at the northwestern foot of the Suzuka range, in Kawachi, Taga Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture. Maibara City describes it as the "summit shelter", provided for sudden changes of weather and for climbers taken ill, with a boarded nap room and an earthen-floored rest room, open free of charge at all times. Because space is limited, users are asked to share it considerately, carry out all rubbish, take great care with any flame indoors and light no fires. Ryozenzan opens views in every direction, a broad panorama from the mountains of Gifu in the east to Lake Biwa in the west, and unusual alpine plants appear on the summit through the seasons. The climb takes about three hours one way; there are no toilets on the mountain, and land leeches are a hazard in damp weather and in summer. Dolines pit the limestone terrain everywhere, so straying from the path when the grass is high or snow lies risks a fall into one. On the Maibara side the trailheads are Kurekehata, the standard route, and Kashiwara, for intermediate walkers; on the Taga side there are the Ochiai and Imahata trailheads.