Getting there/getting around: There is plenty of parking near the main trails. There are a few bus stops around the lake but I am not sure of what their routes are.
Map: Yama to Kogen Chizu --I don't know. I printed one out from this link. Searchable map link
Elevation:Lowest: 1,345m Highest: 1,828m Total Ascent: 1,129m Total Descent: 1,129m
Technical considerations/difficulty: This hike was not particularly scary or taxing. There are very few ropes or chains. The only really steep section is the slope direct between the lake and the peak of Mt. Akagi. That section is kind of interesting as it is characterized by fairly large boulders shaded by trees. Unfortunately, being the shortest route to the top, it is also characterized by a lot of people. I came down that way and thought that it must be a bit taxing going the other way. One other factor that affected the day was the wind. The temperature wasn't really cold but the wind was quite high and I was glad that I had a Goretex shell to wear over a fleece.
Facilities: There are several restaurants and the like around the lake. There are also boats on the lake. Most of the businesses weren't open yet as Golden Week is still approaching.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations: I can't say I didn't enjoy it. I did. That said, I almost wonder why this is one of the 100 Famous Mountains. Most of them that I have completed so far have been really, really special. This one was just really special.
After finishing the larger portion of the trip, I decided to go back and check out one more hilltop that I'd skipped in the morning. This is Mt. Kita. There is a sign on top but there is no trail to get there.
I'm not going to give a blow-by-blow account. If you're interested in going to the area, you'll discover for yourself the ins and outs of it. I'll just put up a bunch of pictures for your perusal.
The first stop of the day was Konuma. That means small marsh.
I climbed the second mountain from the left last week. The one to its right, Mt. Tateshina, is another of the 100 Famous Mountains as is Mt. Asama in the middle. Those are both visible from my house and I am itching to try them out.
I wrote before that I wonder why Mt. Akagi is one of the 100 Famous Mountains. On second thought, I can now see that the views from here on a clear day would really warrant putting Mt. Akagi on the list. There really is a lot in line of sight from this area.
Mrs. Caveman is visiting her family in the cave of her youth in the tropical paradise she hails from right now. Where she is, there is a heat wave and a heat index of around 50 degrees Celsius! I'll take the ice and snow here, thank you.
This is Kakumanbuchi (Kakuman Marshland) in the foreground and Lake Onuma beyond that.
Looking back on Konuma.
It's nice . . . but it would be even better if Mt. Fuji wasn't hiding behind the haze.
Some spots on these trails reminded me of hobbits.
Many Japanese hikers often put a lot of effort into eating gourmet food on the trails. They'll carry stoves with them and cook some really elaborate dishes and have a glass of wine on a mountaintop. That's not my style. I don't want to carry anything extra and I don't want to spend time cooking. If I want something hot, I just bring a thermos.
This day's "gourmet" lunch was ham and prosciutto on homemade bread. Yum.
After lunch on top, I came down to the water level before going back up into the mountains to swing around the west side of the lake.
The Akagi Shrine with the mountain above
These guys are well-fed and have really good rhythm.
I have to say that the carp up here can be really huge.
They are also eaten around where I live.
Mt. Akagi
This is Mt. Kita.
After I came off the mountain, I drove down a very long, narrow, windy road to this campground to spend the night. It was a nice place.
Home for the night.
Inside the campground
Maebashi City from the campground
This is the next day. I had business to attend to in Takasaki. That is a nice city.
The ruins of Takasaki Castle
I took this on the way home. I think one of those mountains is Mt. Myougi. That one is going on my bucket list, too.
That's all for today. If you read this far, thanks.
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Others have said much the same. A friend of mine who has climbed all of the 100 Famous Mountains ranks it last at 100! I thought it was a little harsh, especially given another 'really special' mountain, namely Tsukubasan, in the same area which he ranked higher. I quite enjoyed it, perhaps, as I started half way up the mountain at around 500 metres elevation, following the Kanto Fureai no Michi.
Others have said much the same. A friend of mine who has climbed all of the 100 Famous Mountains ranks it last at 100! I thought it was a little harsh, especially given another 'really special' mountain, namely Tsukubasan, in the same area which he ranked higher. I quite enjoyed it, perhaps, as I started half way up the mountain at around 500 metres elevation, following the Kanto Fureai no Michi.
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