Hiking in Mt.Mitake and Mt.Hinode

I went hiking in Mt.Mitake and Mt.Hinode in Tokyo with my friend last Friday. I hiked in the mountains for the third time. Hiking in the mountains provides me with different impressions every time. We left Atsugi at eight in the morning. The nearest train station to the base of the mountain is Mitake station on Chuo line. The station has unique and traditional looks.

After we left Mitake station, we enjoyed cable car riding from the base, Takimoto station (233m) to the entrance of hiking course, Mt.Mitake station (831m). The cable car climbs up a slope having maximum grade 47% in about six minutes. Weather was perfect for hiking. It was cool and we were getting refreshing slight breeze. The mountains were covered with beautiful autumn colour of foliage. I felt refreshed by the beautiful sight and cool breeze.

There is a small town near the summit of Mt.Mitake. The town has nostalgic Japanese town looks. There are small shopping street, restaurants, shops, inns and old style houses. If you were there, it might remind you of your hometown. Obviously, The heart of this town is MusashiMitake shrine and it's also a symbol of this mountain.

After the paying my respects at the shrine, we visited Nanayo falls (seven steps waterfall) and Tengu-Iwa(a huge rock). The waterfall and huge rock surrounded by greenery have mysterious atmosphere. After that, we walked toward the summit of Mt.Hinode. The hiking course was very easy to walk. Breathing fresh autumnal air put out my daily busy work from my mind and made me relaxed. I was walking enjoying beautiful scenery of mountain and a conversation with my friend.

After two hours walking, we arrived at the summit of Mt.Hinide at last. The summit was like beautiful well maintained garden. There were many kinds of trees there and leaves of each trees have particular color. I enjoyed magnificent view from the summit and took many pictures. If it were clear fine day, we could have seen skyscrapers of Tokyo from there.

After we went down the mountain, we went to hot spring TsuruTsuru-Onsen. We enjoyed a relaxing soak in the hot spring. And we had a dinner and enjoyed a local beer at a restaurant in the hot spring place. Drinking a beer after taking a bath was great!