Snow Hike up Mt. Takao -- Part 2

Stories and photos from a late February climb up the backcountry of Mt. Takao, Tokyo's most famous mountain, continue. Part one is HERE.

Yesterday's post showed the snow and how most of the hikers in our group used snowshoes to traverse up the mountain. Today's post will focus more on the backcountry trail we used to climb up Mt. Takao. As I mentioned, there were a lot of trees. I often joked that I must be lost...not in Japan, but in Canada!

Cutenekko's first snow climb...and loving it!

After I got my snowshoes on, my friend took this photo. It felt good to be standing ON TOP of the snow, rather than sinking in it (as was the case for the first 40 minutes of this climb...gah!)

This guide, if I translate his name into English is "Mr. Morning". ^_^ He taught me how to put on the snowshoes and also loaned me some proper stocks. Mine had the bottoms missing and as a result, when I hiked, my stocks were just stabbing the snow like some sadistic snow killer. At another rest stop, I got his photo. His explanations were very clear; I liked hiking with him. ^_^

"good" Morning!

It took approximately 3 hours to reach the summit due to the snow. We rewarded ourselves with an outdoor lunch. The group members laughed at my pink bento (lunch) box and thermos -- they were so heavy for climbing, they thought.

My hiking partner, Y-san sneaked a photo of me preparing hot coffee:

While it's true that my thermos and bento box were a bit heavy, I was rewarded with a gourmet lunch set: corn soup, rice with fish flakes, potato croquette,  salad, cheese filled hamburger and veggies. The other mountaineers suggested I bring a much lighter, cup noodle can next time. (laugh)

Super yummy lunch...^_^

Hot coffee: really tasty after a cold 3 hour climb!

We didn't spend much time at the top. As soon as lunch finished, we repacked and outfitted ourselves with crampons (spikes worn under the hiking boots) for the descent.

Y-senpai did manage to snap a few photos of me at the top of Mt. Takao. She and our other guide, Ms. N, said I looked "cool". Not sure if the pun was intended. (laugh)

Cool cutenekko? Takao mountain had about 1 meter of snow at the summit. Brrr!

Getting ready to head down from the top.... 

Our group look trail #4 down, which criss-crosses it's way down the mountain.

Cutenekko slowly says "good-bye" to Mt. Takao: 

Photo courtesy of Y-san

Trail #4 is famous for a wooden suspension bridge. The sight was amazing, more so with the snow glistening all around. I am sorry I didn't take enough photos here. It was too cold to stop and reach for the camera....

The lead guide walks the bridge:

Cutenekko prepares to "fly" over the bridge!

photo courtesy of Y-san

At the end of trail #4, we reached the temple gate on Mt. Takao. From here, we would walk a service road down to the train station. I rewarded myself with a photo and a big smile.

Hurray for my first snow hike!!

Photo courtesy of Y-san

My awesome hiking partner, Y-san posed with me at the gate. She has a lot more hiking experience than I, but also said: "This hike was really tough."

Photo provided by Y-san

I would like to challenge snow climbing again, next season. Unfortunately, the weather has warmed up in Japan and the snow is melting quickly.
Perhaps I can visit Mt. Takao in the spring to see the green side of this mountain. ^_^


~ Information ~ 

Mt. Takao rises 599 meters, or 1,965 feet above sea level. 

The wikipedia page is HERE. The official website for the mountain, which includes transportation and hiking trail information, is HERE.

Mt. Takao is an easy day trip outside of Tokyo. 

Access: 
From Tokyo: 
JR Chuo line from Tokyo station to Tako station. 
Time: 57 minutes one way. 
Cost: ¥890 ($9). 

From Yokohama: 
JR Yokohama line from Yokohama station to Hachioji. 
Change to JR Chuo line to Takao Station. 
Cost: ¥890 ($9) one way. 
Time: 59 minutes.

In spring and summer, this area is very crowded on weekends. You can take a cable car most of the way up, so if you stick to the trails, it's an easy climb. There are several restaurants at the top too (not open in winter) and at the base of the mountain. Several shops serve soba (buckwheat noodles) and have English menus. 

Snow Hike up Mt. Takao - Part 1

Last Friday, I participated in my monthly mountaineering group's hike. This month, we ventured up the unmarked (meaning, no trail) side of Mt. Takao, perhaps the most famous mountain in Tokyo.

While foreign readers may think: a mountain in Tokyo??? Tokyo city itself stretches north, where there are a few mountains. Mt. Takao is easily reached from Tokyo station via the Chuo line, in just under 60 minutes. Many city dwellers venture to this point for a chance to enjoy nature and an easy climb -- if you take the marked trails.

Our guides for the day took us to the ugara (back) side of Takao Mountain. What made this climb special was the one meter of snow on the mountain due to two large snowfalls in early and mid-February. After catching a bus from JR Takao station, we arrived at the starting point -- an educational forest camp.

A solo hiker checks his map:

At this camp, we checked our gear and prepared for the snow climb. I borrowed spats from the guide. It was my first time to wear spats, as this would also be my first experience hiking in snow.

The unusually large amount of snow at the camp:

When we reached the start of the hike, our guide informed those who had brought them, to put on their snowshoes. I watched one hiker next to me adjust hers...

Snowshoes!

About seven hikers had snowshoes and three of us did not. Those with shoes, hiked up first; those without, tried to follow in their footsteps, so as to not sink too much in the snow.

While the photo below doesn't show the mountain accurately, this was a very steep climb. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a 9 in difficulty. It was the most challenging climb I had ever undertaken, made more difficult by constant sinking in snow up to my thighs, as well as constantly dodging branches and trees.

Mid hike: 

After 30 ~ 40 minutes of climbing, we took a break. One woman, who had been having trouble with her snowshoes, wanted to give up and finish the climb using just her boots. As a result, the guide asked me: "Do you want to try?" I eagerly said yes.

I used traditional Japanese style snowshoes, made of curved bamboo! Below, the guide is showing me how to attach the cord to my boot:

After the guide's explanation, he said: "Now, you do the other one yourself."
I think I did a good job. ^_^

I was amazed at the difference wearing the snowshoes. It became much easier to climb, as my boots were not sinking too deeply into the snow. I felt like a cool (pun intended) climber. ^_^

I'll share more photos from our snow climb up Mt. Takao tomorrow.
Please be sure to visit again!


~ Information ~ 

Mount Takao is Tokyo city's most famous mountain. There is a temple and even a cable car (not in operation in the winter) which can whisk visitors to the top in no time. If you follow the easiest trail, it's a very easy climb. If you go through the backcountry (as shown in the post above), it's very steep and recommended for intermediate to advanced climbers only -- especially in winter/snow conditions. 

Access: 
JR Chuo line from Tokyo station to Takao station. Time: 57 minutes. Cost: ¥890 (about $9 one way).

Website: 
Official site with hiking trails, information on events and FAQ: HERE. The easiest trail is trail #1. 

Trip Advisor loves Mount Takao! See reviews of the mountain HERE.

Japan Guide show lovely photos of the temple at Mount Takao. Take a look HERE.

Oono Mountain - Part 3

A fun hike up this mountain in western Kanagawa, continues. 

Part 1 is HERE. Part 2 is HERE. 

After lunch, we headed up to the true summit of Mount Oono.  Oono mountain rises 723.1 meters. Our hiking group got a photo at the summit marker:

Mount Fuji can be seen in the background, far left.

I found out where the woodworker often carves his little animals. In the forest, just below the summit, I found lots of half finished works:

The trail down was quite beautiful, but a little slippery in some spots. We passed over one bridge and many fallen leaves:

At the base of the mountain, I was surprised to see tea fields. Usually, tea is grown in Shizuoka, the prefecture next to Kanagawa.

For those without a car like me, there is a bus to the base of Mt.Oono, but beware: it only comes twice a day! o_O

The sign reads: "Fujikyu Shonan Bus. Tsuburano Entrance"
The bus times are:
09.22 & 10.22 | 09.10 & 10.10

At a cafe, advertising for hikers to "come in a take a rest", was this bunny. Cute eh? ^_^

Even Yamakita station continues the theme of wood carvings. As you can see from the entrance, lots of wood frame the opening.
From this station, you can walk about 15 ~ 20 minutes to the base of Mount Oono:

Across from the above station, our group stopped inside a local shop for drinks. I ordered a tall, cold one to celebrate the end of the hike:

This was given to our group -- free -- by the proprietor of the shop: pressed senbei (rice crackers). The taste was similar to a gingerbread cookie. ^_^

Next week, I'll go on another day hike, so be sure to check back then to see lots of photos. ^_^


~ Information ~ 

Mount Oono is located in Western Kanagawa, near the boarder to Shizuoka. It's directly south of Hakone and Lake Tanzawa, so if you stay for a few days, you can enjoy many lovely sightseeing spots in this area. Google map is HERE. 

Hiking course information is HERE. (Japanese only)

Access: 
From Yokohama: 
JR Tokaido line to Kozu, change to JR Gotemba and get off at Yaga station. Cost: ¥1,100 one way ($11) 

From Tokyo: 
JR Shinkansen line to Odawara, change to Odakyu Line going to Shin Matsuda. Change again to JR Gotemba line getting off at Yaga station. Cost: ¥3,840 one way ($34.80) Travel time: about 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Oono Mountain - Part 2

Pictures showing this fun hike in Kanagawa, continue. Part 1 is HERE.

After passing the viewpoint to observe Mount Fuji, we continued up. This part of the climb was my favorite. It was like marching through a sea of gold.

Golden fields:

As mentioned earlier, there were many wood carvings along the hike and were extremely fun to spot. This bunny held a sign which read:
"(This point is) the same height as the Tokyo Skytree Tower, 634 meters." 

We stopped just below the summit to cook lunch. It was quite windy, but the sunshine warmed me up.
From my bench, I had a fantastic view of a snowcapped Mount Fuji:

View of the trail among the golden fields: 

Each member had been assigned to bring something. I was to bring seaweed, which wasn't much, so I brought along some other things too -- grapes and pickles. One lady brought a whole buffet -- pineapple, pears, mini oranges, various pickled vegetables, avocado. We all ate really well!

This is my hiking friend, Y-san, who introduced me to this group. She is an avid hiker and has climbed mountains in: Nepal, Switzerland, and of course, Japan. She'll travel to Italy this summer to do another hiking tour. Whenever I saw her mountain climbing photos, I couldn't help but say: "I want to do that!"
In the photo below, Y-san helps to make mochi (pounded rice cakes) by boiling them:

~ Culture point ~ 
In Japan, there is a system called "senpai"[sen - pie] and "kohai"[koh - high], which loosely translates to "senior" and "junior". Seniors are responsible to teach juniors. In return, juniors show deep respect to their senpai, by speaking to them using honorific language, giving gifts, doing small favors, etc. I would consider Y-san to be my senpai, as I really want to learn how to be a serious mountain climber. When we hike together, I often call her "Y-senpai".
You can see the senpai / kohai system in junior & senior high schools, at university, even in the workplace in Japan.


One very amazing hiker prepared these elaborate bento boxes (lunch boxes) for each member of the group -- a total of 10 boxes! Everyone marveled at the selection of homemade pickles, sausages and cheeses.

My bento, provided by hiker, S-san: 

After a long lunch and clean up, we began hiking again -- this time, to the summit. I was surprised to find snow along the trail! (It was late January)

Tomorrow, I'll share pics from the summit marker at the top and our hike down.
See you again soon! ^_^


~ Information ~ 

Mount Oono is located in Western Kanagawa, close to the boarder of Shizuoka prefecture. A map is HERE. 

Access: 
From Yokohama: 
JR Tokaido line to Kozu, change to JR Gotemba and get off at Yaga station. Cost: ¥1,100 one way ($11) 

From Tokyo: 
JR Shinkansen line to Odawara, change to Odakyu Line going to Shin Matsuda. Change again to JR Gotemba line getting off at Yaga station. Cost: ¥3,840 one way ($34.80) Travel time: about 1 hour, 20 minutes. 

Information about the mountain and hiking in the area is HERE. (Japanese only)