Mount Mitsutoge

Looking to escape the oven heat of Tokyo and get away to the mountains for a respite, I found myself on a train heading to a town noted for pure, clean water. The steripen can stay home.

Pretending to read the map.

Leaving the station, I was treated to promising views of the iconic Mount Fuji from the road.

Following a green painted line masquerading as a sidewalk that kept me on track.

Pockets of rice fields dotted the neighborhood.

I’m detecting a color coordinated pattern.

Now if I had paid attention and retained some meager language fragments from school, I could be somewhat reading this map, instead of just taking a picture of it.

The first and not the last one I will see on the trail.

Scarfing down a shoyu flavored hard boiled egg and washing it down with a cold Coke. Life doesn’t get any better than this on the trail.

Leaving the paved road behind.

So where do you paint the eye?

Going up the log lined trail.

One of many benches sprinkled throughout the trail. Surprised there are no massage chairs as well.

Frog or toad?

My last view of Mount Fuji from the trail.

I can read. English.

Goin up the heavily rooted and stepped trail.

Some stone Buddhas still had their red aprons and others still had their heads.

Stakes and ropes to keep one from falling off the ledge.

Bridge crossing coming up.

Flip or flop.

Approaching the spot where Japanese alpine climbers practice and perfect their skills.

I heard there are roughly 70 routes to choose from, ranging from 5.4 to 5.9 grades.

Picking up my pace in case an errant rock decided to come my way.

Never fails. Vending machines dispensing chilled beverages to those with the yen for them. I’m not complaining.

Panoramic view. Looking for Mount Fuji.

Still looking for Mount Fuji at the 1,785 meters summit.

Same view that Japanese viewers get to see on New Year’s Eve. Well, they actually get to see Mount Fuji.

You don’t even have to poop or piss in the woods up here.

Who let the dog out? Not this poor pooch.

Time to leave the mountain tops.

So many signs. Which one to follow?

Walking through open fields. I think it’s some sort of nature preserve. Half expected wild life to show up.

Back in the tree lined ridge.

Horizontally leaning tree to give balance to all the vertically standing trees.

Going down the tree shaded trail. Crisp and cool in the mountains.

In a rut. Hiking rut.

Passing a makeshift dwelling. Didn’t stop to see if it was occupied.

I can’t read Japanese well, but I can read a picture. Picking up the pace.

Second shrine of the day.

My trail of solitude was interrupted by the crushing mass of humanity at the station.

Most of the people milling at the station had used the ropeway to come up and go back. Three minutes versus thirty minutes. I’ll take the latter.

I can’t see Mount Fuji for the clouds.

Statues depicting the story of the rabbit setting fire to the heavy load of kindling on the tanuki’s back. Kachi-Kachi Yama.

Try your luck and don’t forget to deposit a donation. Lady?

Making my way down the bench and tree lined trail.

Looking down at the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes.

Going down the trail populated with shrubs of ornamental hydrangea flower heads.

Purifying minds and bodies.

The last shrine on the trail.

Back on the paved road.

Finishing my hike off with what else? Another ice cold Coke.

Hmmm, which colorful character themed trains shall I take to Shinjuku?

The 16.9 km hike winded through forested areas, summits with views (but not of Fuji) and tree lined ridges. Not a bad way to spend the day. Post hike meal at Standing Sushi Bar. Cheap, fresh and tasty sushi. It would put Genki Sushi to shame.

Note: I have been made aware the some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Tagged as: japan, kachi kachi ropeway station, kaiun-yama, lake kawaguchi, mount fuji, mount mitsutoge, mount tenjo, nishikatsura