Kanto Fureai Trail Tokyo Section 1
Overview
Length: 6.2 km
Time: 7 hours and 5 minutes
This section of trail is the first of the Tokyo Sections of the Kanto Fureai Trail and spans 16.2 km from its start at Umenoki-daira (梅の木平) to its conclusion at Takaosanguchi Station (高尾山口駅). From the trailhead the pathway follows paved road some distance through a rural mountain village before the buildings gradually disappear and the path becomes an unpaved forest road. Stick to the road until you reach the ridgeline and you’ll arrive at Misawa Pass (三沢峠) on the border of Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. From there the trail continues along the gently undulating ridgeline, below which the scenic Tsukui Lake (津久井湖) can be viewed through the foliage.
Along the ridgeline you’ll pass over several small summits (see the map below) before descending down to Otarumi Pass, where you’ll cross Route 20 before ascending back up to Shiroyama, the highest point on this section. From there you can get a great view of Sagami Lake, the Tanzawa Mountains, and even Mt. Fuji if the weather is clear. This is also the point where the Kanto Fureai Trail intersects the Tokai Trail, which continues south to Kyoto.
From here, the trail backtracks a little before splitting off towards Takao Mountain, which is famous as a major site for Shugendo asceticism. The view from the top is great, but also don’t forget to look around the shrine complex as there are numerous beautiful religious buildings, including the Rakuoin Hall, which houses many cultural heritages.
Exiting the shrine grounds, you’ll pass along a path lined by large old cedar trees before eventually arriving at two cable car stations. Continue onward to eventually arrive at Takaosanguchi Station, the end of the trail.
Map
Attractions
Access
To reach the start of this section one can navigate using Google, so simply navigate using the following locator for the bus stop, following the link below. Note that buses to the trailhead are very limited, you will most likely have to reach it by walking from Takaosanguchi Station, an easily walkable of 1.7 km. The section ends at Takaosanguchi Station, which is also navigable by Google. From there, you can take the train back to central Tokyo.
Trail start: Umenoki-daira Bus Stop
Trail stop: Takaosanguchi Station
Copyright Brian Heise, 2019
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