August 11th is Mountain Day. As you all know, this is a new national holiday that was established this year.
Let's climb a mountain on Mountain Day! So, I, Dojo, who is the head of the mountaineering club, will humbly introduce some recommended mountains to climb on Mountain Day from those I have climbed so far.
[Beginner Level] ~Let's start here~
There's lots to enjoy, including the approach to the shrine and the tea shop!
"Oyama"
Elevation: 1,252m
Course time: Ascent 2 hours 20 minutes (via Onnazaka) Descent 1 hour 40 minutes (via Miharashidai and Onnazaka)
Physical fitness level ★☆☆☆☆
Difficulty ★☆☆☆☆
*The number of stars for physical strength and difficulty levels is at the sole discretion of the dojo.
Access to the trailhead: Approximately 20 minutes by Kanachu Bus from Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line
http://www.ooyama-cable.co.jp/course.html
Mt. Oyama was the first mountain we climbed together after the Monosasu Mountain Climbing Club was established. When viewed from afar, it has a beautiful pyramid shape. The trailhead is in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and is popular because it is easily accessible from the city center.
The route to the mountain is also home to Oyama Afuri Shrine, a shrine dedicated to mountain worship. As a result, there are many shops along the approach to the mountain from the bus stop to the trailhead, and you'll be captivated by the local sweets and souvenirs.
Perhaps because it is a tourist destination, there are some unique face-in boards along the way.
Club members enjoying the face-in board near the trailhead.
Tops are apparently a specialty of Mt. Daisen, and the motif appears to be a boy playing with a top.
There is also a cable car, so even those who are not confident in their physical strength can get there. At the top of the cable car there is a tea shop where you can buy food locally or take a break before climbing to the top of the mountain.
A cute retro cable car
It takes about 90 minutes to reach the summit from the cable car station. If the weather is good, you can get a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji from the summit, and there is also a large open space where you can relax, making it the perfect place for a family picnic.
When I climbed the mountain with the mountaineering club, we hiked in the rain, but we all cooked our own meals at the summit and enjoyed mountain meals. Eating ramen in the pouring rain is now a fond memory.
Mountain meal in the rain
Mt. Daisen is a mountain that can be safely recommended even to beginners. Why not try it for your first mountain climb?
[Moving beyond beginner level] ~For those who are gradually getting used to mountain climbing~
Recommended for first-time hikers!
"Tanzawa Omote Ginza Traverse Course"
Elevation: 1,491m
Course time: about 7 hours (Ybitsu Pass to Okura Ridge)
Physical fitness level ★★☆☆☆
Difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Access to the trailhead: About 50 minutes by Kanachu Bus from Hadano Station on the Odakyu Line
http://www.kankou-hadano.org/hadano_mountain/mountain_o2js.html
Tanzawa Omote Ginza is a major route in the Tanzawa Mountains, which are in the same mountain range as Mt. Oyama. You can enjoy a traverse along the ridge path that stretches from peak to peak. The entire route is 14km and takes about 7 hours to walk, so this is a course we recommend you try once you have become somewhat accustomed to the mountains.
When climbing from the base to the summit, many routes take you through forests to reach the peak, so views along the route are often poor. However, the best part of hiking across multiple mountains is being able to enjoy beautiful views while walking.
The members of the club are enjoying the beautiful Mount Fuji.
Tanzawa Omote Ginza was also a course that the mountaineering club took, and even among the members who were doing a traverse for the first time, there were several who said that this trip had made them love mountaineering even more.
There are rocky areas along the route where chains are used, and there are repeated ups and downs between peaks, making the climb very challenging.
From our destination, Mt. Tonodake, we can see all the way from the city of Hadano to the Shonan Sea, and it is a very pleasant experience on a clear day.
The spacious summit plaza
When we climbed with the Monosasu Mountain Climbing Club, we enjoyed a hot pot party in the plaza at Tonomine Mountain.
Kimchi hotpot with lots of ingredients
Beer on top of the mountain is the best! We are enjoying the view and hotpot. But we still have to go down, so we're not going to go too far.
Eating a meal together at the summit is one of the joys of mountain climbing.
Before heading out to the mountains, it's fun to think about what menu to prepare.
[Intermediate Level] - Recommended for first-time visitors to the Northern Alps -
Mysterious rock formations and a cozy mountain lodge "Tsubakuridake"
Elevation: 2,763m
Course time: Ascent approx. 6 hours, descent approx. 3 hours 30 minutes Physical fitness level: ★★★☆☆
Difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Access to the trailhead: Take a mountain bus or taxi from Hotaka Station. There is also a direct bus from Tokyo to the trailhead.
http://www.enzanso.co.jp/pages/categories/hajimetenoyama.html
Mt. Tsubakuro, known as the Queen of the Alps, is a popular introductory course to the Northern Alps. The course passes through Kassen Ridge, one of the three steepest climbs in the Northern Alps, but the path is well maintained, making it an easy mountain to climb.
At the Kassen hut along the course, watermelon is sold in the summer, and eating it while taking a break after a hot climb is a special experience.
The sweetness and moisture will soothe your tired body.
Located 1km from the summit of Mt. Tsubaki, Tsubame Sanso is ranked #1 in the ranking of the best mountain huts to stay at. It's spacious, so even when it's crowded, you won't have to sleep in one futon with three people, and the food is delicious. At dinner, the owner of the hut plays the alpine horn, which makes you feel nostalgic.
A log cabin-style mountain hut that is well-maintained and comfortable.
In addition, in front of the mountain hut there is a statue of a mountain man with a mysterious face, which quietly welcomes climbers who have climbed the long ridge.
A mountain man with a unique expression that makes you want to meet him again
On the route from Tsubamesanso to the summit of Mt. Tsubamedake, there are a number of strangely shaped granite rocks. On this day, the surroundings were completely white due to the kiri weather, so I felt like I had wandered into another world.
We all had fun searching for Dolphin Rock, Spectacles Rock, and other rocks.
Member Matsushima buried under rocks
Dolphin Rock, which looks just like a dolphin
This area is also home to the ptarmigan, a protected species of bird, so if you're lucky you might even encounter one. When we climbed with the Monosasu Mountaineering Club, the weather was foggy, which is said to be a good time for ptarmigans to appear, so we were lucky enough to spot one.
The cute walking ptarmigan
Furthermore, we were blessed with good weather and were able to see the sunrise rising from the sea of clouds, making it a memorable and wonderful mountain trip.
I was moved by the sunrise from the sea of clouds.
For me, the best part of mountain climbing is being able to see amazing scenery that I would never encounter in my everyday life. If it's a scenery that I can see after going through the hardships of climbing up on my own two feet, then the excitement is even greater.
I'd love for everyone to see this spectacular view in person!
What did you think? These are the mountains recommended by the Monosasu Mountaineering Club that you should climb on Mountain Day.
As an aside, when I was a student, I had no interest in mountain climbing, and instead only had the image of it being difficult and painful. However, after reading an article in a magazine introducing some incredibly beautiful mountain scenery, I decided to give mountain climbing a try, and now mountain climbing has become an indispensable part of my life's work.
If this article has piqued even the slightest bit of interest in mountains, I would be delighted if you would make your mountain climbing debut in honor of Mountain Day.
モノサスアーカイブ