June 22, 2014

Hike around Lake Onuma at Mount Akagi

In May, I went to Maebashi City in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, in order to visit Mount Akagi (赤城山). There is no actual peak named “Mount Akagi”: It refers to the whole mountain range in the area. Its best-known attractions are Akagi Shrine, Lake Onuma (大沼) and Mount Kurobi (黒檜山). While I was there, I took a series of trails going through some of the peaks surrounding the lake. This page can serve as a reference (although it differs a bit from what I did).

June 18, 2014

Hike from Hinohara Village to Lake Okutama (Part 1): Mount Sengenrei & Mount Mito

A few days after my hike to Mount Usuki and Mount Jinba, I went back to Hinohara Village: This time, I took the trail to Mount Sengenrei (浅間嶺). After the summit, I kept walking on the Sengen Ridge (浅間尾根) until I reached Hinohara Tokyo Citizens’ Forest (檜原都民の森; Hinohara Tomin-no-Mori) and Mount Mito (三頭山), which I had already climbed starting from Lake Okutama. After that I went down to the Visitor Center, enjoying the Forest Therapy Road and the sight of the Mito Waterfall (三頭大滝; Mito Otaki). When I set out in the morning, I had planned to stop there but there was still a bit of time before sunset so I decided to keep going all the way to Lake Okutama (奥多摩湖), going up again through Mount Toishi (砥山) and Mount Tsukiyomi (月夜見山) before going down to the lake through the camping grounds of the Mountain Hometown Village (山のふるさと村; Yama-no-Furusato Mura). I then crossed the lake at the Floating Bridge (浮橋; Ukihashi) and waited for the bus on the other side.

June 13, 2014

Spring at Kyu-Furukawa Garden

While I was at Kyu-Furukawa Garden for the rose festival, I spent some time strolling around the Japanese garden.

June 12, 2014

Rose Festival at Kyu-Furukawa Garden

In May, I went back to Kyu-Furukawa Garden for its Spring Rose Festival.

June 11, 2014

Institute for Nature Study

The Institute for Nature Study (自然教育園; Shizen Kyoiku-en) is a nature reserve in Tokyo near Meguro Station.

June 10, 2014

Boat ride on Lake Sagami

After getting down from Mount Jinba and reaching Lake Sagami, I boarded the big swan sightseeing boat for a tour of the lake.

June 9, 2014

Hike from Hinohara Village to Lake Sagami: Mount Usuki, Mount Ichimichi, Mount Daigomaru & Mount Jinba

After visiting the Hossawa Falls, which was actually a detour, I turned east to reach Mount Usuki (臼杵山) and continued to Mount Ichimichi (市道山). Those are two of the “Three Togura Mountains” (戸倉三山). After Mount Ichimichi, I walked south to Mount Daigomaru (醍醐丸) then went down to Wada Pass (和田峠) before climbing the stairs leading to the summit of Mount Jinba (陣馬山). I then walked part of the trail to Mount Takao but went down the mountain at Myo Pass (明王峠) in the direction of Lake Sagami (相模湖), passing Yose Shrine (与瀬神社) along the way. I then took the train back to Tokyo from Sagamiko station.

June 8, 2014

Hossawa Waterfall

The Hossawa Waterfall (払沢の滝; Hossawa-no-taki) is located in Hinohara Village, in western Tokyo. It is only about 10 minutes from the bus stop, next to the trailhead to Mount Sengenrei. This page has a map and directions to its location.

May 16, 2014

Lake Kawaguchi in spring & Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine

After the boat ride, I walked on the north bank of Lake Kawaguchi until I reached the Fuji Omuro Sengen Shrine, Mount Fuji’s oldest shrine. I then took a bus to the train station.

May 15, 2014

Boat ride on Lake Kawaguchi

After getting down from Mount Kachi Kachi, I was walking by the boat terminal near the ropeway station and there was a lake cruise just about to start. I decided to hop on board.