After saying good-bye to the stunning beauty of Okuoi-kojo Station, I crossed the Rainbow Bridge and kept walking on the trail in the mountain. In 10 – 15 minutes or so, I stepped out of the pathway and another 10 minute walk along the roadway took me to a huge bridge leading to “Love Romance Road”. Here is an alternative. You can go directly along the roadway to the station, or you cross the bridge into another hiking trail with 8 suspension bridge ! I took the latter, of course.＾＾

I, telling the truth, am not good at strolling in or along the mountain like this alone because I am so imaginative that I often dream up an idea that bears or man-eaters may come out of nowhere to attack on me. Actually, in all modesty, I often come across wild animals. Apart from my fancy dreaming, you’d better watch out for wasps ! Indeed, I had seen some of them on my way. Stay away quietly anyway if you happen to see them. The trail ended after about 40 minute walk and that is one of the major onsen hot spring resorts, Sessokyo Onsen !

I crossed another huge bridge and went on to the station at the foot of the mountain. No one was there.

Then a group of family came in and we talked each other. They were from Yokohama for sightseeing. I was meant to take the train for Ikawa, and they were for Senzu to take SL. They looked so happy to be there !

The train came in 15 minutes. I took it to Ikawa, the terminal station of South Alps ABT Line. A train conductor was announcing tourist information along the railway. We turned our head to the right and left following his narration. When it stopped for us to see the spectacular view on the bridge of about 71m-high canyon, everybody exclaimed. Soon the train reached Ikawa Station. The humongous Ikawa Dam could be seen on its way.

So, this is it. Because of this dam, Ikawa Line was opened all the way through mountains and Ikawa district was developed into a town. And thanks to these dams in Oi River including Nagashima Dam I mentioned last time, we have hardly had water-shortage or electricity-shortage around Oi River. Maybe we should feel more grateful for the early pioneers.
Ikawa, the gateway to South Alps Mountains, is very popular among hikers and climbers. If you are trying, be sure to plan carefully beforehand and enjoy yourself !

Next time, I’ll introduce Sumatakyo Onsen resort and a Japanese Inn.

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

So, how was “Fuji Matsuri” the wisteria festival in Fujieda ? I enjoyed it very much and because I had been still vigorous enough, I tried to hike up a hill behind the pond. I was not so sure of my stamina, though, it’s not Mt. Fuji, right ? With pet-bottled tea, here we go !
In ten minutes, I was gasping after all. ＾＾； Good sloping trail. But there, I found something. Fuji-no Sato Wisteria Garden ! Fabulous scent came on the wind. It would be in full bloom by now.
Along the pathway, I saw various flowers to let my brain refresh through eyes. Especially, colorful flowers in the picture fascinated me so much. Recognize that ? It's called Shakunage-no Michi, the rhododendron walkway.＾＾

Now, it took me about 30 minutes to walk up to the top. Magnificent view ! Refreshing air. What else do you expect ? Not to mention Fujieda City, I could see the further city, Yaizu, Suruga Bay over it, and even Izu Peninsula beyond the sea ! Peace and quiet. That made me feel as if we had had the devastating earthquake long long time ago.
By the way, this is not merely a hill. This is well known as clustered ancient tombs in the shape of mounds. Actually, you can find 28 tomb mounds of 500s – 600s ! I walked though the mounds and found lots of azaleas. Honeybees were jubilantly sucking nectar in the flower. I sat on a bench in the Fujimi-daira observation deck. Sound of wind, scent of flowers, and this magnificent view. I wish I could have stopped the time.

Now, it was time for me to go to Fujieda City History Museum. There, you can see unearthed articles researched and found from these tombs. Sounds fun ? ＾＾ Though Fuji Matsuri has already finished, I here attach a guide-map so that you can walk around Rengeji-ike Park with it. Wisteria is still good for now. Talking about white wisteria, "Shirafuji-no Sato", located in the north from Rengeji-ike Park, is having its best season for now. You can also hike up to Shirafuji-no Taki falls that looks like white wisterias. Enjoy yourself !

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So, I’m on my way to �A from �@ in the map. Next time, I’ll report the History Museum.

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

After we had reached the very top of Mt. Fuji, we took a sufficient rest in or around the hut and started, finally, at 7:40, to climb down from Gotemba Trail. It was very smart for us to take Gotemba route because it was much easier to walk down. As you know, the Fujinomiya Trail has many large rocks in the pathway that eventually causes ache in the knee for physically overloading to your legs by your weight and the backpack. On the other hand, Gotemba trail, though partway the same as Fujinomiya’s, it will have tons of volcanic ashes and drastically fractured rocks that becomes like a cushioning material to your legs and what is more, that makes us considerably cut the time to walk down the mountain. This happy-go-lucky route is generally called “Osuna-bashiri” – Sliding on the sand – that enables us to travel 2 meters with one single step.

Now, see the difference in the picture.
At first, you will walk on a trail like this. Please be very careful not to let any rocks down below because it sometimes happens that one single small stone brings bigger stones to hit and injure somebody.

Climbing down the trail, soon you will find that the rocks are fractured into gravel or even sand. Now is the time ! Ready ? Go ! ! You see my feet in the sand ? Very easy to tread in and out. Just like a runner in the Olympic, you can feel the wind. Oh, and maybe you need to be advised that it’s better to wear spats not to let sand in your shoes.

We could have kept on the Gotemba Trail but we changed the route back to Fujinomiya Trail through the crater of Mt. Hoei. This volcano erupted in 1707, still active, and it is said that the volcanic ashes reached as far as Tokyo. The view from there is magnificent but somehow scary for its too vast sight or too desolate land.

I felt the power of nature when I found a flower that I didn’t know even its name. To the Mt. Hoei, you can enjoy a short hike from the sixth station of Fujinomiya Trail. It will take an hour from the 6th, 2 hours from the 5th. Climbers often enjoy this route before or after Mt. Fuji climbing season.

At 13:00, we all arrived safe and sound at again the gate of 5th station. Nothing was better than our party having returned without any sickness or injury. Everything that I went through in this tour has absolutely become good to me and I believe everyone with me and all other climbers feel the same, and I’m sure that this is the very thing that Mt. Fuji attracts millions of visitors.
Please take good care of yourself when you challenge this mountain

Good day !＾＾!

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾

I was not sure if I had slept well. I woke up anyway by the sound of other members packing their stuff and changing clothes. I opened my eyes. Not a bad morning. Sitting up, I looked around. Babble of voices from everywhere. Maybe, everyone in the hut was awake to prepare their stuff, I had presumed. And that was correct.
When we went out of the hut, I found a line of light along the pathway of Mt. Fuji. Still dark, of course. We put on the head-lights and at 2:40, we began to walk finally to the summit to catch the sunrise.

As you know, we stayed at the Ninth. 9.5th station comes next walking for about 30 minutes which I took 40. And finally the top station, after 4:00, 40 minutes from 9.5th ! How could I believe in myself being at the summit of Mt. Fuji ? Climbers came in a line one after another with one same purpose “Sunrise”.

Not finished yet. We knew the morning was coming up and we needed to move to the best place where we could see the sunrise. 10 minutes more to walk along the crater. Other people also moved in the same direction just as the migration for an Oasis.

And around 4:40, it began to appear.
Voices of excitement and jubilation. I was so impressed by the charm and grace of its emergence. I’m so sorry that I can’t make the beauty well understood with only pictures. Seeing Mt. Fuji from various points is surely one of the pleasures but I’m sure now that seeing various points from Mt. Fuji is another pleasure for all of us.

By the way, we were not meant at the highest point of Mt. Fuji yet. To conquer this mountain, we need to walk further to “Kengamine Peak”. Of course we did.
On its way, we dropped at Sengentaisha-Okumiya Shrine.

Oh, I regret I’ve been forgetting to inform you that, at every station, they brand a proof of climbing on the alpenstock for ¥200. Would be a good memory for you !＾＾ See mine in the picture. Cool, isn’t it ?

There is a post office next to the shrine, that stands, needless to say, on the highest point in Japan. You can stamp or buy the Certificate there and mail it practially.
Anyway, we headed for the “Kengamine Peak”. The mountain slope was fairly steep. I walked for ten seconds, stopped for a rest for a minute, again began to walk, and stopped, finally got to the monument which definitely proved that we were at the highest spot in Japan. Was I profoundly moved to tears ? No, I just felt I was extremely activated or energized, or invigorated, or even refreshed ! Why ? Because……I can go home ! ミ(ﾉ´∀｀)ﾉ♪
Next time, I’ll report the way back to the Fifth !＾＾

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾

One step with two deep breaths. Ten steps with 3 minute break. This is how I went for the next station.
I left the new seventh and what comes next ? Eighth ? No ! Pay attention to the word “new”. What does it mean ? Yes, old seventh comes next at the height of 3010m.
Following the winding trail, worn out, helped by party members, I kept walking without thinking nothing, looking down on the mountain surface. Then some kind of miracle happened maybe. Mountain breeze took dense fog away to show the missing blue sky, though only to find out that the old seventh station was still far away……
After we passed the old seventh, we headed for the eighth station. From this point, the trail becomes rocky and that requires more strength for a step. Another fog came with the wind from foothills and soon we were covered with it. The weather on the mountain is such variable.

Taking a sufficient rest at the eighth, we started again. The last hike before our mountain hut. Only 210m to go. 4 hours had passed since we began to climb. 1 hour more at most. A little vigor from the smiles of our members. Fortunately, the fog was cleared away again. Snows still remained. Eternal snows ? The temperature was the best for climbing. It was after 18:00. Everything is going well.

On the way to ninth, I found a weird log. Coins wedged. Who did it first ? What was it for ? ? Anyway, we finally got to the ninth station before sunset, around 19:00.

Below my eyes, the field of clouds spread with dazzling evening sunshine. I felt natures all around gave me the power that made me more than myself. Now,……Time for dinner ! （＾＾）／

We got in the mountain hut “Mannen-yuki-sanso” which literally means “the hut with eternal snow”. This accommodates, surprisingly, 250 people ! About 5 people in a compartment. We left our baggage in it and headed for the table.

Thanks to the special favor of the owner, we got curry and rice, beer, canned meat and oden, all of which definitely created the most luxurious dinner for our members.

After dinner, I went out to see the whole world below. Taking my cell-phone out of the pocket, I checked whether I am in the service area, without any expectation. Good God ! Connected. I e-mailed to my family to say I was OK.

Back in the room, wrapped in blankets, I was remembering when I had left the fifth, sixth, new seventh, old seventh and eighth. 5-hour climbing is by no means easy. Maybe I have more guts and spirits than ever before. And maybe I can reach to the top tomorrow. Maybe I can see the sunrise on the top. 1 step makes it for sure close to where we are going. That tells everything in our lives. Being so philosophical, I fell a shallow sleep.
The time passed ten. Got to sleep ‘cause I had to wake up at 2:00 the next day.

To be continued

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾