Getting there/getting around: I drove. There is a bus up to the Takamine Hotel from Shinjuku.
Map: ***The Caveman is giving up on posting links to maps. They go out of date and the links die. If you want a map, comment and I'll get you a current link.
Elevation:Lowest: 1,966 Highest: 2,316 m Total Ascent: 368 m Total Descent: 368 m
Technical considerations/difficulty: The trail from the pass to the rim that Tominokashira is on is quite easy. From that point onward, the collection of peaks on the ridge are characterized by steep cliffs.
Facilities: Nothing on the trail except one escape hut. That is actually to escape in the eventuality of an eruption. It's not the type of hut set up for a typical overnight emergency.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations:
I am so glad I got to do this hike and that I was able to catch the moonrise. All day long I had been looking up at the mountain shrouded in clouds and thinking I probably wouldn't see anything. In the even, the clouds were encroaching on the moon while it was rising but the moon got just above the horizon before the clouds started to block it. It was beautiful. I just wish I had a better camera for this.
Make sure you catch the videos!
Here are some pictures
Mt. Kengamine
That's all for now.
Check out these mountains if you want to see more of the area.
S'up, Cavers? This is a report on a few mountains on the south side of the Yatsugatake Mountain Range, principally Mt. Io and Mt. Yoko.
. . . about Yatsugatake Mountain Range
Yatsugatake 八ヶ岳 literally means eight peaks. As I look at a banner sporting the Yatsugatake Range on my wall, I count many more than eight peaks, but I won't quibble. Yatsugatake is the name of a 30 km mountain range in Nagano Prefecture that runs north to south. The highest points are in the south, with Akadake being the very highest at 2,899 meters. The highest point in the north is Mt. Tateshina at 2,531 meters. Both of those peaks are counted among the 100 Famous Mountains from Kyuya Fukada's list.
Nearby to the west are various notable places such as Lake Suwa, Chino City, Lake Shirakaba and another of the 100 Famous Mountains, Mt. Kirigamine. Visible in the distance to the west are the Southern, Central and Northern Alps.
The eastern side of the range takes in Koumi, where Japan's highest train station is, Sakuho, Yachiho Heights, and Saku City. Visible nearby is Nobeyama, Mt. Ogura, Mt. Yokoo and several other mountains. A little farther away is Mt. Mizugaki and Mt. Kinpu, both of the 100 Famous List. Mt. Fuji is visible too.
To the north is Mt. Asama, the mountains around Karuizawa, Mt. Arafune, etc.
There are four passes to get from one side of the range to the other. I'm pretty sure they are all closed during the snow season.
The range is home to Japan's highest hotspring (outdoors, of course!), a plethora of mountain huts, lodges, campgrounds and one of the most popular spots in the country for fall foliage, Shirakoma Pond.
I am so privileged to live within the shadow of this range.
More pleasant trails on the way to the first peak, Mt. Iodake.
It seems like ages since I've had a good long-distance view. These some of the Northern Alps.
Looking at some of Yatsugatake to the immediate north
This is around the top of Iodake.
Io means sulfur.
It's the same word in Iwojima. Iwojima means sulfur island.
The top of Iodake
Hello, what's this I see?
balmy
Between Io and Yoko, there are quite a bit of ladders and chains.
(One of) the top(s) of Yokodake. There are 3 peaks.
I really, really love being able to pick out places I've been before.
Looking north. I live in the valley between this point and Mt. Asama. I'm hoping to hike there tomorrow night for some moon viewing.
I climbed Komagatake and Senjogatake last month (or this month, they all bleed together.) I have a better view of them on this clear day than I did when I was actually there! Kita-dake is Japan's second-highest mountain. It is a real treat.
After those last pics, it was time to turn around. My return would take me back to Iodake before turning onto a new trail for a while.
I made it to the car before I needed to break out the headlamp. 🤓👍
Well, that's it kiddos. That was fun. I think I should post some video of this hike. It was so picturesque that day.
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If you want to see more of Yatsugatake, check out Akadake or you might check out this hike near Nobeyama, which is visible in the foothills beside Yatsugatake. Mt. Meshimori, etc.
