kenjiSAITO » gunma

Japan HoroHoro 2025

kenji SAITO — Sat, 24 May 2025 19:10:06 +0000

We paid a visit to the land of the rising sun, not to predictably hike Fuji-san but rather do a couple of exploratory activities since we had only so many days to spend.

Iwashima

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan – May 27, 2025

It took us several connecting trains and roughly three hours to travel from Shinjuku to the town of Higashiagatsuma in Gunma Prefecture. There was nobody at the “station” to take our tickets, so we just dropped it in the “honor” box.

Higashiagatsuma

We had to “wake” up the barber at Akagi Barber Shop to find out where the bus stop was. Then we got slightly worried when the bus didn’t show up as listed on the schedule. In the land of punctuality. It showed up 10-15 minutes later as we were thinking of trying to catch a taxi or just to walk the distance to make our reservation time of 1300.

Higashiagatsuma

Getting off the “bus” that was adorned with colorful cartoon characters. If you didn’t know any better, one would think Japan is just one big cartoon country.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

We checked in along with others and picked our colorful hard hats. Safety first. Then we walked a short distance to the departing train platform.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

Pedaling our way on the re-purposed former JR East Agatsuma Line railway tracks that was shut down due to construction of the nearby Yamba Dam.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

Passing through one of several tunnels underneath the mountain.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

This one had Christmas lights illuminating the tunnel.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

Approaching the reason this activity exists in the first place.

Yamba Dam

This was the turn around spot for our rail bike cars. Walking around the concrete gravity dam that became operational in 2019, which rises to a height of 116 meters and can store up to 108 million cubic meters of water. It also provides enough power for nearly 12,000 homes. I was unable to fulfill a friends request to climb the “Stairway to Heaven” on the side of the dam. My Japanese may be rusty, but I think entrance is prohibited.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

The workers turned the rail bikes around so that we didn’t have to pedal backwards to the train platform.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

Passing through Tarusawa Tunnel, once known as the shortest in the country.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

Friendly construction worker waving at us as we rode by on the tracks, making the “gattan” noise as the rail bike contacted the tracks.

Agatsumakyo Gorge Rail Bike Agattan

We were soon back at the platform after spending roughly one hour round trip on the tracks and a brief exploration of the dam that cost us 5,000 yen for the experience. This ride would be best experienced in the fall when the colors change for eye candy consumption.

Higashiagatsuma

The bus was not scheduled to come for another two hours and no taxi cabs would come to collect passengers this far out. I guess we are walking back.

Higashiagatsuma

Back at the bus stop. For the land of convenience machines, we didn’t see not one walking back. We must really be in the country country. Since we had over an hour to wait, we walked to the nearby hardware store where we bought some snacks and drinks.

Iwashima

Killing time at the deserted train station before our departure time.

Higashiagatsuma

Making myself comfortable. It’s going to be a long train ride back. We had dinner at Coco’s where I had my usual seafood spaghetti served by a robot.

Kawaguchiko Station

Aokigahara – May 29, 2025

It took us only two hours this time to reach the train station in the town of Fujikawaguchiko from Shinjuku. Our local guide, Omori Tadasuke, picked us up at the station along with an Australian couple that were honeymooning in Japan.

Fujikawaguchiko

After picking us up, Tada took us to a nearby school parking lot where we were made to don blue coveralls and matching blue helmets. On the ride to the forest, we saw a lot of tourists taking pictures in front of this Lawson convenience store. I was thinking what’s so special about this Lawson? Was this the first Lawson store to open in Japan? Incidentally, that was in 1975 and it was then called Daiei Lawson. In 1979, the name was changed to Lawson Japan. No, this was not the first Lawson store to open in Japan, which was in Osaka. Not the brightest bulb. It would turn on later.

Aokigahara

We soon parked somewhere on the side of the road where Tada explained the lay of the land.

Aokigahara

Following the leader into the forest which has captured the fancy of some in the West due to its reputation as the most popular suicide spot in Japan. In 2003, 105 bodies were found in the forest. The numbers have been declining and authorities have stopped posting numbers to discourage associating the forest with suicide.

Aokigahara

The forest is also known as Sea of Trees which sits on the northwestern flank of Mount Fuji.

Aokigahara

Standing next to a marker that reads National Monuments of Japan and was designated as such in 1929.

Aokigahara

Making our way down the trail that was somewhat slippery due to the moisture and moss on the rocks.

Aokigahara

Passing the spot where the temperature drops a noticeable ten degrees cooler than topside. Instant air conditioning.

Aokigahara

Group photo in the hole with the five of us.

Aokigahara

Climbing down a ladder that was built over 20 years ago by a friend of Tada’s. No worries.

Aokigahara

Entering the lava tube known as the “Wind Cave.”

Aokigahara

Tada told us that the ice levels had significantly dropped from the time when he and his friends used to explore these caves as kids over twenty years ago. Global warming perhaps? Wooden debris and remains spoke of the times when the Japanese used to keep silk worm eggs down here from the Edo to the Meiji periods. It’s actually a crime to remove any ice from the caves and could be punished by fines or imprisonment.

Aokigahara

The Aussie making his way out of the lava tube.

Aokigahara

Group photo framed by the background opening and forest.

Aokigahara

Climbing our way out of the hole where we left behind the ten degrees of colder temperature.

Aokigahara

Tada blowing his deer mating call to attract any hoofed ruminant ungulates in the area. None answered the call.

Aokigahara

Our guide captured on film, this particular stoat or mountain fairy years ago in this forest. They are carnivores related to the same family of weasels, badgers, otters and wolverines.

Aokigahara

Walking back to our van where we thankfully didn’t encounter any dead people. In 2017, social influencer Logan Paul and friends stumbled upon a person that had committed suicide and uploaded the video where it was met with negative backlash and soon taken down.

Fujikawaguchiko

Our tour which cost us USD113.00 was interesting and informative to the end and Tada then dropped us off back at the station after the conclusion of our short hike. We had time to kill, so we had lunch at a nearby ramen shop and the light bulb finally turned on. Roughly two years ago, social media propelled this particular “konbini” into unwanted international recognition as the “Mount Fuji Lawson.” The clouds had covered the iconic symbol on our way to the ramen shop, but when we were walking back to the station, the clouds cleared up. Clusters of crowds prevented the proper “framing,” so we just snapped a couple shots and took the bus that would take us back to Shinjuku. We ate cheap and tasty sushi standing up for dinner at a spot that is hardly patronized by locals and mostly foreigners.

Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel – June 1, 2025

Our last activity on the trip took us over an hour train ride from Shinjuku to Kasukabe Station. We then caught a taxi to the place informally known as the “The Underground Tunnel” or “G-Cans.”