Looking for a place to cool yourself down, but don't want to travel too far from Tokyo?
Well then, the most conveninent place to go from Tokyo would be the Kawaguchiko area of Yamanashi prefecture.
I think many of you know that I didn't like going to crowded places and places where I can see the mass groups of tourists. But, this time, I will introduce to you one place in this tourist-run area that will heal your soul and refreshes you up like new.
I am sure anyone who has been to the Kawaguchiko have at least once persuaded to take the Mount Kachi Kachi Ropeway (カチカチロープウェイ) to the top of the 1,100m tall Mount Tenjo where you are promised a breathtaking panoramic view of the Mt Fuji on its observation deck.
Yes, you can definitely get that breathtaking panoramic view of the Mt Fuji but that place is also extremely boring with one small building that doubles up as a souvenir shop and snack bar and a small shrine dedicated to a certain rabbit*.
There is nothing much to do except to look through one of the three binoculars. As for that panoramic view of the Mt Fuji, well... You can already do so by just being there in the Kawaguchiko area.
Oh well, we didn't know better and it's okay, I did the same mistake during my early days in Japan. But today, I encourage you to, instead of taking the cable car down, try to walk down the narrow and seemingly unkempt hiking trail. The whole descent takes about an hour through the forested mountain slope. But after 15mins on the trail downhill, you will be delighted because THIS is the view waiting for you.
Between mid-July to early August, you can see thousands of hydrangea on the slopes of Mount Tenjo and more at the Tenjoyama Park. The flowers like the summer fireworks, light up the mountain slopes with the brilliant colours of purple, red, blue and white. They looked like coloured sponges bobbing from the sea of green forest. The Tenjoyama Park is quiet and sitting in any of the benches can also give you breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. Personally, I feel that this park is the best place to view Mount Fuji.
After resting at the Tenjoyama Park, you can walk down further to this view of the mountain slope.
When you come down almost at the bottom of the mountain, there is another quiet and small Shinto prayer area and a rest stop.
If you are using the retro buses along the Kawaguchiko Line, please get off at the Yuransen Ropeway Iriguchi bus stop. It is also possible to walk from Kawaguchiko Station to the ropeway station in about 15-20 minutes.
If you are planning to hike up the Mount Tenjo instead of taking the ropeway, it only takes one and half hour to get to the top of the Mount Tenjo observation area. The hiking course starts somewhere near the ropeway. If you are walking from the Kawaguchiko station, make sure to look for a row of blooming hydrangeas when you almost reach the entrance to the ropeway. There is a signboard that shows, "あじさいハイキングコース, Ajisai Hiking Course" and you will see a slightly steep road.
Just follow that road. Soon, you will be surrounded by hydrangeas on both sides of the road and the road will soon lead you onto the hiking trail where the hydrangea bloom.
The map I got from the tourist office also had a clear direction which I have uploaded in this post. And yes, please wear your hiking shoes for this trail. Some parts of the trail are steep.
There is also another different trail starting from the rabbit shrine uphill which continues on to Mount Mitsutoge. This is also another popular day hiking trail with many good views of Mount Fuji. As I hike from the bottom of Mount Tenjo, I didn't try to hike to Mount Mitsutoge this time as it was a hot day and I was a bit exhausted from the hike.
The last time I wrote about how you can take a train and the highway bus from Shinjuku in this post. You can book the bus ticket online here (in English) or just go straight to the highway bus station in Shinjuku.
*You can read the story about the rabbit on the Mount Kachi Kachi here.
In my opinion, the hydrangeas should be still blooming until the end of this week. You can still catch them if you go this weekend.
Happy hiking!
Well then, the most conveninent place to go from Tokyo would be the Kawaguchiko area of Yamanashi prefecture.
I think many of you know that I didn't like going to crowded places and places where I can see the mass groups of tourists. But, this time, I will introduce to you one place in this tourist-run area that will heal your soul and refreshes you up like new.
I am sure anyone who has been to the Kawaguchiko have at least once persuaded to take the Mount Kachi Kachi Ropeway (カチカチロープウェイ) to the top of the 1,100m tall Mount Tenjo where you are promised a breathtaking panoramic view of the Mt Fuji on its observation deck.
Yes, you can definitely get that breathtaking panoramic view of the Mt Fuji but that place is also extremely boring with one small building that doubles up as a souvenir shop and snack bar and a small shrine dedicated to a certain rabbit*.
 |
| The shrine is really cute though |
There is nothing much to do except to look through one of the three binoculars. As for that panoramic view of the Mt Fuji, well... You can already do so by just being there in the Kawaguchiko area.
Oh well, we didn't know better and it's okay, I did the same mistake during my early days in Japan. But today, I encourage you to, instead of taking the cable car down, try to walk down the narrow and seemingly unkempt hiking trail. The whole descent takes about an hour through the forested mountain slope. But after 15mins on the trail downhill, you will be delighted because THIS is the view waiting for you.
Between mid-July to early August, you can see thousands of hydrangea on the slopes of Mount Tenjo and more at the Tenjoyama Park. The flowers like the summer fireworks, light up the mountain slopes with the brilliant colours of purple, red, blue and white. They looked like coloured sponges bobbing from the sea of green forest. The Tenjoyama Park is quiet and sitting in any of the benches can also give you breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. Personally, I feel that this park is the best place to view Mount Fuji.
After resting at the Tenjoyama Park, you can walk down further to this view of the mountain slope.
When you come down almost at the bottom of the mountain, there is another quiet and small Shinto prayer area and a rest stop.
 |
| I made a short stop here to say my thanks for letting me stay in this beautiful country before making my way back towards the train station |
If you are planning to hike up the Mount Tenjo instead of taking the ropeway, it only takes one and half hour to get to the top of the Mount Tenjo observation area. The hiking course starts somewhere near the ropeway. If you are walking from the Kawaguchiko station, make sure to look for a row of blooming hydrangeas when you almost reach the entrance to the ropeway. There is a signboard that shows, "あじさいハイキングコース, Ajisai Hiking Course" and you will see a slightly steep road.
 |
| Properly marked signboard |
 |
| Hydrangea blooms on both sides of the road |
 |
| This is where we want to get to |
The last time I wrote about how you can take a train and the highway bus from Shinjuku in this post. You can book the bus ticket online here (in English) or just go straight to the highway bus station in Shinjuku.
 |
| Image from Highway Bus website |
In my opinion, the hydrangeas should be still blooming until the end of this week. You can still catch them if you go this weekend.
Happy hiking!
No comments:
Post a Comment