As part of my preparations for climbing Mt. Fuji, I have been climbing much smaller peaks nearby. This past weekend included one of those summits, the 599m climb up Takao-san. Takao is very popular as a short trip from Tokyo and for good reason!
From where I live it is a 2-hour trip so I got up early and headed to Takao leaving my apartment around 8:30am. I arrived with my friend to Takaosan-guchi at around 10:30. This station made it very apparent to us that the area sees many tourists. It was very fancy and surrounded by tourist-trap buildings.
We made our way past the tourist traps and the cable car station to the entrance of trail #6. One thing I think is really cool about Takao-san is how many trails it has. From cable car and chair lift, to the paved path of trail one, and more importantly the actually hiking trails 3, 4, and 6. The mountain also has two loop trails that go around the mountain and the summit of Takao is the starting point of a 5 hour hike to Mt. Jimba. (Unfortunately due to time, we could not take that one).
So my first review of the mountain is of trail #6. Each trail has an "interesting point" to is and 6's point is the Biwa Waterfall. But be careful, because I'm still not 100% sure what the waterfall is even though I think I have figured it out. Along the trail there are streams, shrines, small waterfalls, and of course a lot of green. It was absolutely wonderful and entirely unpaved.
From where I live it is a 2-hour trip so I got up early and headed to Takao leaving my apartment around 8:30am. I arrived with my friend to Takaosan-guchi at around 10:30. This station made it very apparent to us that the area sees many tourists. It was very fancy and surrounded by tourist-trap buildings.
We made our way past the tourist traps and the cable car station to the entrance of trail #6. One thing I think is really cool about Takao-san is how many trails it has. From cable car and chair lift, to the paved path of trail one, and more importantly the actually hiking trails 3, 4, and 6. The mountain also has two loop trails that go around the mountain and the summit of Takao is the starting point of a 5 hour hike to Mt. Jimba. (Unfortunately due to time, we could not take that one).
So my first review of the mountain is of trail #6. Each trail has an "interesting point" to is and 6's point is the Biwa Waterfall. But be careful, because I'm still not 100% sure what the waterfall is even though I think I have figured it out. Along the trail there are streams, shrines, small waterfalls, and of course a lot of green. It was absolutely wonderful and entirely unpaved.
We reached the summit, ate lunch, enjoyed the views of a cloudy sky, and then headed down trail #4 to see its suspension bridge. Trail 4 was just as awesome as trail 6 and the suspension bridge was pretty impressive. (I was still somewhat afraid on it though...).
Trail 4 crosses with Trail 1 for the entrance of Yakuoin temple, so of course we went to see it. When climbing Nokogiri-yama a few weekends ago, I learned about these awesome little books that you can take to all the temples and shrines you visit, pay 300 yen, and get the (probably monks) to sign your book. At Yakuoin, you get to actually watch them do this. So naturally, now I want to study calligraphy and work in a temple doing this. Foreigners can do that right?????
Then, we took trail 1 down to the station and I'm so glad we didn't take it up. It was paved THE ENTIRE WAY. Naturally, we ran down most of it (partly because it was less painful on the knees, mostly because who doesn't enjoy running down mountains when they can?).
Trail 4 crosses with Trail 1 for the entrance of Yakuoin temple, so of course we went to see it. When climbing Nokogiri-yama a few weekends ago, I learned about these awesome little books that you can take to all the temples and shrines you visit, pay 300 yen, and get the (probably monks) to sign your book. At Yakuoin, you get to actually watch them do this. So naturally, now I want to study calligraphy and work in a temple doing this. Foreigners can do that right?????
Then, we took trail 1 down to the station and I'm so glad we didn't take it up. It was paved THE ENTIRE WAY. Naturally, we ran down most of it (partly because it was less painful on the knees, mostly because who doesn't enjoy running down mountains when they can?).
From Takaosan-guchi Station, we caught a shuttle bus to a nearby onsen and soaked away the aches of climbing before getting on a train to head to Ajinomoto Stadium (for FUTBALL!!!!!!!!)
Most of you that know me know that one of my favorite sports is soccer. I played as a child, I continue to referee in that league, and it simply joys me to watch the sport. With that being said I am not sure why it took me until Tokyo FC's last home game of J-League stage 1 to go to a game this year... but it did.
I'm glad I didn't wait any longer than that though!! Not only was the atmosphere possibly the best sports atmosphere I've ever experienced, I also found out that my favorite player from the Japan National team in the Asia Cup is one of Tokyo FC's top players and FC won the game! It was great because the game was close for the entirety of the match and the players were really cool! I want to go to another game, but there aren't many left before I leave, oh no!!
I'm glad I didn't wait any longer than that though!! Not only was the atmosphere possibly the best sports atmosphere I've ever experienced, I also found out that my favorite player from the Japan National team in the Asia Cup is one of Tokyo FC's top players and FC won the game! It was great because the game was close for the entirety of the match and the players were really cool! I want to go to another game, but there aren't many left before I leave, oh no!!