Ougiyama and Momokurayama

I continued my annual tradition of doing a solo post hike after Mount Fuji. My only change was that I wore my La Sportiva shoes, as they were so comfortable. Left the slippers back at the hotel.

The train ride from passenger packed Shinjuku and the connecting station of Takao took roughly 90 minutes to Torisawa. I walked out of the station and was pleasantly surprised to find Ougiyama trail signs across the street. No bushwhacking on this hike. Just follow the road.

The road took me under the Chuo Expressway, which is a major road artery connecting Tokyo and Nagoya.

Trail signs intermittently posted in the densely packed residential area kept me from straying into somebodys bonsai garden.

Hmmm, guns are prohibited in hunting area. Just have to watch out for those samurai swords. What do they hunt around here?

Gaining elevation. Still on the road.

The helpful trail signs disappeared and since I had passed a junction earlier, I stopped an old man out for a walk to ask in my mangled Japanese if I was on the right road. Hai (Yes).

The trail signs popped up again.

Beware of bears! Is this what the hunting signs were talking about? Great. Here I am without any bear bells or bear spray. All by myself. Bear bait.

The road bended and soon shadowed a golf course. Fah!

I made it to the bus stop aka trailhead, roughly 50 minutes after leaving the train station, without running into any bears. Safe and sound. Wait, don’t bears live in the woods? Or was that sh*t in the woods?

A Buddhist statue at the trailhead was dedicated to all the hikers that had unfortunate encounters with bears. Actually, it was of Kannon, goddess of mercy. Erected to honor the residents and hikers that died in 1907 when part of this mountain collapsed. Met a couple also hiking the trail.

A lot of signs to digest. Let’s see … 1 hour 50 minutes to the summit … Prevent forest fires …. Watch out for bears … What’s that old joke? You don’t have to be the fastest runner. Just don’t be the slowest one.

A dragonfly at rest. The predator insect is the oldest known design used on pottery in Japan and called the victory insect by the ancient samurai due to the fact that the insects don’t fly backwards and for their hunting prowess.

I exchanged “konnichwa” greetings with the couple and passed them on the clearly marked trail.

Crossing this bridge over a trickling stream that lead to …

… a blue bucket of water. Potable?

The trail lazily switch backed up the mountain, passing a small shrine.

The heat and humidity were off the charts. Soaked in sweat.

The trail took on a slightly steeper pitch towards the top of the ridgeline, where I turned right for the summit.

Hiking up the pitched and rooted trail …

… which soon leveled off …

… and lead to this panoramic view of the 3,733′ summit. A sign said this was #6 of 12 nice views. No view of Mount Fuji. What nice view?

Another hiker soon joined me at the summit. He promptly took off his sweat soaked shirt. Reminded me to replace my sweat with sweat. Pocari Sweat.

I headed back down the ridgeline and met up with the couple that I had passed earlier coming up. Konnichiwa.

The trail dropped in elevation as I went down into the saddle between the mountains.

Noticed somebody coming up the trail. Konnichwa. Just glad it wasn’t a bear.

The trail contoured to the left …

… and started to pick up the lost elevation.

I continued straight on the trail for Momokura. Noticed that a lot of trees were banded with white ribbons. Shinto purification? Tree cutting?

Open for ovulation.

The trail became steeper as I approached the summit.

Panoramic view of the 3,290′ summit. A sign said this was #7 of 12 nice views. No view of Mount Fuji. Again. What nice view?

The summit had a nice picnic bench with tree blocked views of the surrounding mountains.

Making my way down the corridor of white banded trees.

I made a left at the junction that would take me down to Saruhashi station. No time to check out the other 10 nice views.

The trail gradually wound its way down the mountain and took me to …

… a bench with a view of Otsuki City.

Butterfly blocking the trail.

All downhill from here.

Google translation = Shimowada Saruhashi Eki = Going down the right way.

Thirsty? Got steripen?

I could see the light at the end of the trail.

The trail ended at a small parking lot and another small shrine.

The long road downhill.

Knock. Knock. Nobody home. No time for mountain mediation.

The road took me underneath a bridge and out to …

… ice cold refreshment. Replaced my sweat with sugared caffeinated water. Love the land of vending machines.

It would be nice to come back for the “fall” showing.

Back in the ‘hood. Signs keeping me straight.

I was looking for the Hawaiian Plate Lunch Wagon.

Where are the sidewalks?

Almost there. My ride home was on the other side of the elevated bridge.

I made it to the cover of the Saruhashi train station just as the rain picked up in intensity and duration.

My two mountains for the price of one hike covered 9.33 miles with no bear sightings. Post hike meal at Hidakaya. A big bowl of hot and tasty ramen for only 390 yen ($3.90). You can’t beat the price!

Tagged as: Hiking, japan, momokurayama, mount ogi, mouont momokura, ougiyama