Greetings cave dwellers.
I've been living in Nagano for a few weeks now and have really been loving it but between the move and starting a new job, I haven't had much time to spend in the mountains beyond a few trail runs. I finally got out about a week ago to a really nice mountain called Arafune.
The name Arafune (荒船) has the meaning of boat in it. The flat shape of the mountain seems to make it look like an aircraft carrier navigating the rough "seas" of the clouds below it.
Cool, huh?
Location: Mt. Arafune straddles the boundary between Nagano and Gunma.
Starting and stopping point: Arafune Fudoson Parking Lot
Peaks bagged: Mitake (御岳) Kabutoiwa (兜岩) Tomoiwa (艫岩) Kaminashi (神無) Kyozuka (経塚)
Getting there/getting around: There is free parking. I don't think there's any public transportation in the area.
Map: Yama to Kogen Chizu #21 西上州 妙義山・荒船山
Weather Information: Arafune weather
Total Time: 4:07 Break time: :11 Distance: 11km
Elevation: Lowest: 1,074m Highest: 1,423m Total Ascent: 970m Total Descent: 970m
Technical considerations/difficulty: I didn't find it that challenging but other people on the internet are saying it is difficult. There are some steep parts, but nothing too hairy as I recall. Maybe my impression is psychological. I was just so happy to be in the mountains that it felt like I was walking on air. There are a few spots where people can rock climb. Candle Rock (Rosoku Iwa) is one spot. I didn't do any of that, though. The trail between the highest peak, Kyozuka, and the most scenic spot, Tomoiwa, is especially flat.
Facilities: Moldy emergency hut at Tomoiwa. A picnic bench or two there.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations: There are good reasons this mountain is on the list of Japan's 200 famous mountains. The boulder formations are really cool and there are some great views.
I think the hunters in this area must be particularly bad marksmen. I have never before seen so many live deer at one time! I'm sure I saw more than 20 in the span of less than an hour. Check out the pictures and video in the post.
Highly recommend this if you get some time in this area.
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