Kumotori from the Great White North. Mitsumine Shrine~Kumotori~Okutama Station

 

Hey there, cavecritters.  This is a hike from Mitsumine Shrine, Saitama to Mt. Kumotori and then on to Okutama Station made over two days in March of one year.  Check it out.

Area:

Location:

Mt. Kumotori Saitama, Yamanashi, Tokyo

Map:  

Online interactive topo map

***The Caveman gave up on posting links to Yama to Kogen maps.  They are great maps but the publisher updates them almost annually and the links die.  Comment if you want me to get you a link to the latest Yama to Kogen map.

Starting and stopping points: Mitsumine Visitor's Center Okutama Station

Peaks bagged: many

Getting there/getting around:  

Get a bus from Seibu Chichibu Station to the Visitor's Center.  (About 1 hour 20 minutes.)  Seibu Chichibu Station is about 2.5 hours from Shinjuku.

There is also parking at the visitor's center if you want to drive.

Helpful Info

Weather Information: 

Tenki to Kurasu site (Japanese forecast)

Mountain-forecast.com (English Site)

Time and distance

Total Time: 12:42 (over 2 days)   Break time: 1:18  Distance:  34km

Elevation:  Lowest: 342m Highest: 2,017m Total Ascent: 2,689m  Total Descent: 3,395m

Technical considerations/difficulty:  

It's a taxing hike.  You need spikes and maybe other snow equipment in winter.

Facilities:  

The Mitsumine Visitor's Center really impressed me.  It was worth dropping in to see all the taxidermied animals and exhibits.  

The Mitsumine Shrine is also worth looking at before beginning the hike.

Kumotori Lodge  is on the north side of the peak.  You can stay and eat there, too.

Kumotori Evacuation Hut:  Right next to the peak.  There is a public restroom up there, too.

Kumotori Helipad  Nice to know in case there is an emergency.  Do not pitch a tent on the helipad, though!

Nanatsuiishi Mountain Lodge  You can stay there also.  There's food and water.

I heard through the grapevine that they are building campsites near the Kumotori Helipad.  I can't confirm it, though.

There are waterholes near the helipad, the Nanatuishigoya and near Mt. Takanosu.  

Thoughts/observations/recommendations: 

This is fun.  The north side of Kumotori had more snow than the south side.  

There are also several minor peaks near the Mitumine Shrine that I have been to on other treks.  Saitama has many mountains that may not be that high but that do deserve respect because of their ruggedness and remoteness.

OK, let's look at some pictures.

Seibu Chichibu Station

Mitsumine Visitor's Center

Mitsumine Shrine

On with the spikes

Kumotori Lodge

Top of Kumotori

Taken from the Evacuation Hut

Evacuation Hut

What a sunrise that was

After spending the night at the Kumotori Evacuation Hut, I descended to Mt. Nanatsuishi ("Seven" "Stones") and got onto the Ishi Ridge for the beautiful but long walk to Okutama Station for the train ride home.

Well, that's it for now.  Caveman, out.

More of Kumotori?

Kumotori #1

Bullied by Bambi

Honorable mention

Sanjo no Yu Bike Ride

Back to Future Again. Caveman bullied by a deer on his second trip to Mt. Kumotori.

 

Hello Cave peeps

I'm posting more of Mt. Kumotori, the highest point in Tokyo.  I first climbed this on October 23, 2018.  I liked it so much that I did it again exactly one month later.  For this trip, I took a different route and camped "wild."  Make sure you keep reading the post to find out just how wild it was.

Area:

Location:

Mt. Kumotori Saitama, Yamanashi, Tokyo

Map:  

Online interactive topo map

***The Caveman gave up on posting links to Yama to Kogen maps.  They are great maps but the publisher updates them almost annually and the links die.  Comment if you want me to get you a link to the latest Yama to Kogen map.

Starting and stopping points: Kamosawa Bus Stop  Okutama Station

Peaks bagged: many

Getting there/getting around:  

Get a bus from Okutama Station to Higashi Nippara Bus Stop.  (27 minutes.)  Okutama Station is the terminus of the Okutama Train Line.  That is about 2 hours from Shinjuku.

There is parking at the Nippara Limestone Caves Temp. Parking Lot

Helpful Info

Weather Information: 

Tenki to Kurasu site (Japanese forecast)

Mountain-forecast.com (English Site)

Time and distance

Total Time:  12:35 (over 2 days) Break time: :36  Distance:  31.5km

Elevation:  Lowest: 590 m Highest: 2,017m Total Ascent: 3,143m  Total Descent: 3,134m

Technical considerations/difficulty:  

It's a taxing hike.  This route is a bit less used than the first one I used.  It's a bit more remote and there is more climbing to do.

Facilities:  

Kumotori Evacuation Hut:  Right next to the peak.  There is a public restroom up there, too.

Kumotori Lodge  is on the far side of the peak.  You can stay and eat there, too.

There is water on the trail only for the first few miles.  Make sure you have enough to make it through the night and the next day.  

Thoughts/observations/recommendations:  

That was awesome!

Pics from day 1

The top of Kumotori

Kumotori's evacuation hut

After going over the top of Kumotori, I kept going straight towards Taba Village in Yamanashi.  I had no idea where I was going to pitch my tent.  I came across this lovely (so I thought) spot called Okamidaira.

As I was pitching my tent, I heard a high squealing/squeaking noise.  I had no idea what it was.  A bird?  A monkey?  I kept looking around while I was setting up.

I had to hurry in getting my tent up.  Daylight was burning.

Then I saw this guy.

That was the first time I identified the sound.  It was this deer barking.  I'd never heard a deer's bark before.

This guy (gal, probably actually) kept circling my tent and coming close to me until about midnight.

Check this video out.  Make sure your sound is on.

So, that was my wild camping experience.  I haven't pitched a tent wild much since then.  If I can get into an evacuation hut, I go there.

Day 2 Pictures:

It snowed overnight.  What a beautiful morning it was!

Mrs. Caveman calls snow magic.  I think she's right (sometimes.  Sometimes it's a nuisance.😜)

My footsteps had a satisfying crunching sound as I walked over the frosty leaves of the bamboo grass.

Well, that's all for now.  Check out the other trips to Kumotori here.

First trip to Kumotori

Mitsumine to Kumotori in March

Caveman out.

Just the purrrfect day in Ome

 

Location:  Ome

Starting and stopping point:  Ome Station to Futamatao Station 

Mountains climbed: Yaguradai  Sanpo   Masugata （マスガタ山)  Monomi  Masugata (枡形山)

Getting there/getting around:  JR Ome and Okutama Lines

Map:  Yama to Kogen Chizu 

Weather Information:  Mt. Sanpo Weather

Total Time:   2:56  Break time:   35 minutes

Distance:  8.4 km

Elevation:  Total Ascent: 514m Total Descent: 476m

Technical considerations/difficulty:  This portion of the trail is very suited to trail running.  No ropes, chains or ladders.  Your grandmother could do it.

Facilities:  Lots of viewpoints.  One public toilet on the way. 

Thoughts/observations/recommendations: I'm sure there are nice views to be had on a clear day.  If you hike in Tokyo, you've surely passed through Ome Station.  If you've never exited the station, you should.  It's a nice area to walk around.  It's famous for having old movie posters around.  And for cats.  There is cat-themed artwork all over the place.  Hence, it's the purrfect place to visit.

I was happy that the cave boy (my son) was available to come to the mountains today.  Being a Japanese high school kid, his time is at a premium. We were able to squeeze a few hours out of his studies for a walk on the trail from Ome Station to Futamatao Station.  It wasn't very clear so it was not the best day for pictures of the mountains.  The best pictures of the day were of the cave boy.   

That's all for today.

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Comments are welcome.

Caveman out