Kawasaki Station

From the police box behind Kawasaki station at Kawasaki city.

Summer in the long grass

A bit of an oasis in Tokyo---at least the more urbanized part. If ya can't get out, the river is as good a place to go as any. On weekdays it isn't especially crowded, but on weekends and holidays, things change quickly. Look for weather---cold, rain, very hot and humid days, snow, high winds all drive a lot of the more dainty-types indoors. Nights are nice too...

Fly over

Shinmaruko in Kanagawa prefecture from the Tokyo side of the Tama River.

Bad weather brewing

You just knew that something was coming. One never bothers with weather forecasts when looking out the window is a more accurate way to tell the weather. Tama River, not far from Tamagawa Station, Tokyo side.

April in Tochigi

From Nyohosan



The town of Nikko down below

Holiday Delivery in Tameikesanno

Golden Week in Japan.

Spring monochrome

Like most places in central Honshuu above about 1000 meters, Nyohosan is still in natural monochrome in the spring. No cherry blossoms here. These were taken 24 April and it will be several weeks before much green returns.

Nyohosan late afternoon

On the way back down, not far from a some lessor visited shrines. The return to town is always a bit depressing, and the train back to Tokyo even more so. It had been a nice cool day with some snow flurries earlier in the day. I regretted not bringing my camping gear....

Not yet halfway up

but finally solitude---something not easy to come by so close to Tokyo. Nyohosan in Nikko Japan. Not one of the top 100 mountains to climb in Japan and thus fewer people normally around compared to more popular hill like nearby Nantaisan. That's why I chose it and this route. The first time, I did not encounter a single person. This time, only one and he was listening to a squirrel bark. I did find pheasant (unexpected in this area), and plenty of deer sign. I saw no bear tracks or droppings---never have around here, but I noticed the guy I met was wearing a bear bell.



Not a well-marked trail, either. Good.

Chuzenjiko 11PM

On a cold, clear night in December. Nobody around, just the sound of the lake, the Milky Way clearly visible overhead, and...alas...the sound of an occasional car driving by.

No luck

There are always a number of fishermen along the Tamagawa. Some even fish during rare snowstorms in Tokyo. Some folks claim the fish are safe to eat as the river is claimed to be relatively clean, but others who live in the area cringe at the thought as the image of the river is anything but clean.

Nakimushiyama Trail/Nyohosan

The quickest and easiest semi-natural area to get to from Tokyo is the Nikko area. Since access is relatively quick and easy and since the terrain is not tremendously challenging, it is often best to go to the less popular trails there if one wants to avoid crowds.

A successful day for me is when I can avoid the sight or sounds of humans. I get my fill of that every single day in Tokyo. This wasn't entirely successful as Nakimushiyama (around 1103.5 meters high) is too easy of a hike and is too close to Nikko to avoid everyone---I met a lady who looked to be in her 70s coming down the trail---but it is about the best that can be done on a one-day hike.

The real mountain is Nyohosan (2483 meters) I believe. However, as my crude map was more for entertainment than accurate navigating, I can't be positive.