December 8, 2013

Abandoned "Tokyo Peace Pagoda" at Mount Odera

A Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa. It is designed to inspire peace and to help unite people of all races and creeds in their search for world peace. Most peace pagodas built since World War II have been built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist Order. Fujii was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promoting non-violence. In 1947, he began constructing Peace Pagodas as shrines to World peace.

The Tokyo Peace Pagoda was inaugurated in August 1974 at the summit of Mount Odera (大寺山; 960m) near Lake Okutama. Not sure why or when it was abandoned. I had a first glimpse of the pagoda when I went to Mount Gozen a few weeks ago and I had no idea what it was: It seemed like a large structure (actually 45m in height and 55m of diameter) but there was no mention of it on maps or tourism pamphlets. So I went to see for myself after I got down from Mount Mito. The trail starts between Mito Bridge and Miyama Bridge on Lake Okutama. It takes about 50min to the summit. After getting back to Lake Okutama, I crossed the Miyama Bridge and waited for the bus back to Okutama JR station.

December 8, 2013

Hike to Mount Mito

A couple of weeks ago, I hiked Mount Mito (三頭山; 1531m). It was my last of the “Three Mountains of Okutama”.

December 6, 2013

Hiking by the sea in Yugawara: Mount Shiro, Mount Maku and Mount Nango

A couple of weeks ago, I went hiking in the sea-side town of Yugawara, in Kanagawa Prefecture, going up, in order, Mount Shiro (城山; 563m), Mount Maku (幕山; 626m) and Mount Nango (南郷山; 610m). They are not very high mountains but since the route starts at sea level, it still made for good exercise. The view on the Pacific Ocean during the hike was also great.

December 4, 2013

Hike to Mount Gozen & Mount Tsukiyomi

Mount Gozen (御前山; 1407m) and Mount Tsukiyomi (月夜見山; 1147m) are mountains bordering Lake Okutama (奥多摩湖), in Okutama in western Tokyo. With Mount Odake and Mount Mito, Mount Gozen is one of the so-called Three Mountains of Okutama (奥多摩三山).

December 4, 2013

Hike from Mount Jinba to Mount Takao

Mount Jinba (陣馬山; 857m) and Mount Takao (高尾山; 599m) are mountains in Hachioji, in western Tokyo. I had already done this trail starting from Mount Takao but it was raining quite heavily then, with a lot of fog as well. A couple of weeks ago, confident in the stability of late autumn weather, I set out for Hachioji again, but this time started at the base of Mount Jinba.

November 29, 2013

Hike to Mount Takanosu / Nippara Limestone Cave

Mount Takanosu (鷹ノ巣山) is a 1,736m-high mountain in Okutama City, in western Tokyo. It is a popular waypoint on the way to Mount Kumotori, the highest peak in Tokyo.

November 27, 2013

Hike to Mount Buko in Chichibu

Mount Buko (武甲山) is a 1,304m high mountain in Chichibu, in Saitama prefecture, about 1h30 north-west of Tokyo. The face visible from the Chichibu Basin is scarred by a large limestone quarry.

November 27, 2013

Lake Okutama

After reaching Lake Okutama at the end of the Mukashi Michi trail, I spent some time on the Ogouchi Dam itself. I then walked in the area north-west of the dam: There are some nice view points of the lake. Finally, I ended the day by hiking up Mount Kurato (倉戸山). However, the view at the summit was blocked by trees so it was a bit of a letdown. I also managed to get lost on the way down… Another option would have been to walk the combined Ikoi trail (奥多摩湖いこいの路 ; literally “Lake Okutama Relax Trail”) + Lakeside Path (湖畔の小道), two easy trails that follow the south bank of the lake all the way from the dam to the so-called Drum Bridge (a floating bridge), near the Ogouchi Shrine.

November 23, 2013

Okutama Mukashi Michi: Walk from Okutama Station to Lake Okutama

Okutama Mukashi Michi (literally “Okutama’s Old Road”) is a 9km path that roughly follows the Tama River from Okutama Station (the last stop of the Ome Line) to Ogouchi Dam and Lake Okutama. It used to be the main road in the area, until 1945 when the new road, which had been constructed originally for transporting material for the construction of Ogouchi Dam, became open to the public. Nowadays, the Mukashi Michi is a popular walking course that goes through mountain trails and paved roads, passing by suspension bridges, shrines and waterfalls along the way and offering a great view on the surrounding mountains, especially now with autumn colors near their peak.

November 22, 2013

Hike in the Fuji 5 Lakes area: Lake Kawaguchi, Mount Ashiwada, Aokigahara Forest

A couple of weeks ago, I went on a day trip to Fujikawaguchiko, in Yamanashi Prefecture. The area is located on the north side of Mount Fuji, west of Tokyo, and is famous for being a great spot for watching the mountain. It also known under the name “Fuji Five Lakes” (after Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Sai, Lake Shoji, Lake Motosu and Lake Yamanaka). On top of the lakes, the area has mountains and swathes of woodland, the most well-known being Aokigahara Forest, also called the “Sea of trees” (and sometimes “Suicide Forest”).