Katsuragi Mountain stands on the border between Nara and Osaka. Climbing from the Gose side, the summit opens into a surprisingly flat expanse with nothing to block the view in any direction.

At 959 meters above sea level, the entire Nara Basin spreads out in a single sweep. To the right, the low ridgelines of the Yamato Three Mountains. Far to the north, the wide plains where Heijo Palace once stood. Beyond them, the hazy horizon of the Osaka Plains dissolves into pale grey.

Summer clouds drift slowly westward. Nothing decides their course. They move on height alone, carried by the wind.