Isumi, Chiba & Mitake, Tokyo
Part 2: Mitake
Mount Mitake (御岳山) is a mountain in the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park near Tokyo, Japan. It stands 929 m (3,048 ft) tall.
It is one of the many highlights of the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, which covers more than 1,250 km2 (483 sq mi) of forested mountains, hills, gorges and some rural towns in the prefectures of Yamanashi, Saitama, Nagano and Tokyo.
Mitake is a popular destination for rock climbers. The rock climbing (bouldering) in Mitake is centered on the riverbed of Tama River
Some of Japan's famous boulder problems can be found in the Mitake area. On boulders such as Ninja Rock and Deadend
With boulders between a few feet till 20 feet tall.[3] The boulders are graded according to the Japanese Dankyu grading system.[4] With problems ranging between Fb3 and Fb8B.
Mitake is easily accessed by train from Tokyo. Take the Ome line from Tachikawa station to Mitake Station (Tokyo)
Yagyu Day-Trip.
Yagyo-cho + Okonomiyaki + 6-pack = A Great Day. What made it the Perfect Day, I shared it with my Wife. If you come to Japan, I will share it with You. Yagyu-cho, as you will see on this video, is a very beautiful place( regardless of what time of year it is) and has an abundance of history. So, come with me and enjoy Yagyu.
Old Tokaido Route Misocutlet's photos around Futagawa, Japan (travelling the old tokaido route)
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Entry from: Futagawa, Japan
Entry Title: Old Tokaido Route
Entry:
In Edo Period of Japan, there were five major routes originating at Nihonbashi called the Edo Five Routes. The most prosperous one was Tokaido Route connecting Edo (Tokyo) to Kamikata (Kyoto) with 53 post towns, or to Osaka with 57 post towns. When I was a university student, I lived in Tokyo, but my hometown was in Nagoya suburb located in the middle of Tokaido Route. So I have gone and returned from Nagoya on Tokaido many times. That's why I am more familiar with Tokaido than the other routes, although the present Tokaido is a little bit different from the Old Tokaido. Anyway, I have heard a lot of retired seniors try a Tokaido hike from Nihonbashi to Kyoto or Osaka these days. It also inspired me to try some of the post towns of Old Tokaido. Actually, last week, I visited Arai Post Town, 31st stage of Tokaido and blogged about it. This time, I have gone to 33rd Futagawa, 35th Goyu, and 36th Akasaka Post Town. I thought I should have visited Futagawa at first, because it had a good museum, Futagawa Honjin Museum, displaying some travel goods, showing how travels were in Edo Period, and explaining the functions of Edo Five Routes and post towns. Thanks to the museum, I was able to the outline of Old Tokaido Route travels. The museum had two annexes, Hatago Seimeiya Inn and Futagawa Honjin Inn. The latter one was originally built in 1807 and renovated many times. Because it is a museum, not a ruin, most parts are apparently new. The museum was in Futagawa which was one stop away from Toyohashi (Old Yoshida, next post town), but I knew there was nothing to see in Toyohashi. So I took a train to Ko and walked to Goyu Post Town, which was famous for a pine tree avenue. The pine trees were originally planted about 400 years ago to protect the travellers and the part of Tokaido Route. It was supposed to be a nostalgic anvenue, but a lot of cars and no hikers were passing by. Near the Shin-Goyu Bridge, the Pine Tree Avenue Museum had a 380 year old pine tree stump in its front, although it was already closed at four. Anyway, the distance between Goyu and Akasaka is 1.7km, although the average interval of Tokaido Post Towns was 8.8km. It was a very easy walk. The aim to visit Akasaka was to drop by Hatago Ohashiya Inn and, actually, there was nothing else to see. The inn was established in 1649 and the innate original part of the building was almost 300 years old. Interestingly, you can stay in the inn even now. The rumor had it that Meiji Emperor and Matsuo Basho, a poet in Edo Period, had stayed there. So it is popular among senior travelers of Old Tokaido Route. It was still open to public even at half past five in the evening and I could enter. The landlady gave me some information and allowed me to see inside of the inn, although I paid a small donation. As a matter of course, it would have been a better experience, if I had stayed there. Additional Note I also visited Miya Post Town, 41st of the Old Tokaido Route, but nothing special to see there but a restored ferry port. The post town had the largest number of inns of the Old Tokaido Route, which had originally a ferry port to travel to Kuwana, 42nd post town. Now the ferry port was a small park with a drum tower and night-light. The ferry port is called 7ri Ferry Port, because the distance between Miya and Kuwana was 7ri (28km) and it was the hardest part of Tokaido travel in Edo period. Actually, I found a new ferry port, but I was not sure if it was available. So I stayed there only 10 minutes and left. By the way, a lot of seniors enjoy walking along the Old Tokaido Route so that they can feel the same way as the travellers in Edo Period. If I had also walked, the park would have given me a good relaxation. By the way, ...
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Photos from this trip:
1. Hand-Carried Litter
2. Pill Case
3. Futagawa Honjin Inn
4. Miya Post Town Ferry Port
5. Atsuta Shrine, Miya Post Town
6. Daimyo Procession
7. Litter Carrier
8. Courtyard
9. Daimyo Room
10. Inn Reception
11. Traveler in Edo Period
12. Goyu Pine Tree Avenue
13. Akasaka Guardian Diety
14. Old Goyu Post Town
15. Hatago Ohashiya Inn
16. Ohashiya Inn Inside
17. The Room Where Basho Stayed
18. Hardware Store Lantern, Akasaka
19. -Year-Old Cinnamon, Atsuta Shrine
20. -Year-Old Pine Tree
21. nd Post Town of Tokaido
22. Prayer Hall in Atsuta Shrine
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