January 3rd.
Start&Finish: Koma station to Musashi Yokote station
The weather: Overcast and cold.
Outfit/Equipment: warm trousers, long sleeve heat tech, long sleeve top, light down vest, hat, hiking shoes.
Map: We followed this hiking course in reverse.
Crowds: Hiwada-san in particular is a popular mountain but it was quiet after that.
Time: 9am to 12pm
Difficulty: 20,114 steps.
We were three again, this time with my daughter visiting and as the weather wasn’t so great, decided on a less challenging mountain so we could get back before the wind picked up. It was bitterly cold with only the occasional glimmer of sunshine to warm us. It’s a well worn path at the start and combined with the cold weather, felt grey and bleak. The surroundings improved as we walked on and we were busy chatting anyway so enjoyed ourselves none the less. In fact, I was talking so much I never actually took any photos so had a beg some off my daughter. The end of this hike is the same as a previous walk we did from Higashi Agano to Musashi Yokote .
It’s a very easy hike with little chance of going wrong. Steep in places, but plenty of things to hang on to as you go. It’s a popular place for school trips and in the right season you may well meet hoards of students on their way up or down Hiwada-san. Today there were a few family groups and couples, walking off all the mochi consumed over New Year.
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