December 29th Start&Finish: Okutama station to Kori station The weather: Cold and sunny Outfit/Equipment: Warm trousers, long sleeve heat tech, long sleeve top, vest top, hat, hiking shoes. Map: We followed the Okutama Walking Trail Crowds: Extremely quiet. Time: 10am to 12:30. Difficulty: 16,641 steps.
December 25th Start&Finish: Shinrinkoen south entrance (there is 300 yen parking just outside the park) The weather: Cold and sunny. Outfit/Equipment: Jeans, jumper, light shoes Map: Here’s a link to the park’s own website Crowds: Very quiet Time: 10am-12pm Difficulty: 16,404 steps.
December 21st Start&Finish: Ome station to Futamatao station (Alternatively park in Nagayama parking lot, though it’s a bit of a narrow, hair-raising drive up. There are also plenty of pay and display places). The weather: Lovely and sunny and not too cold. Outfit/Equipment: warm trousers, tshirt, long sleeve top, hiking shoes. Map: This is a […]
December 1st Start&Finish: The weather: Outfit/Equipment: Crowds: Very crowded in the park but only the odd hiker on the trail from the park. Map: You can find a course map here. Time: Around 2 hours Start&Finish: Akebono Children’s Forest Park The weather: Beautiful, sunny and mild. Outfit/Equipment: Jeans, tshirt, jumper, hiking shoes. Map: You can […]
November 24th Start&Finish: The weather: Outfit/Equipment: Crowds: Map: Time: Start&Finish: Ashigakubo station The weather: Beautiful sunshine but cold, especially at the top! Outfit/Equipment: warm trousers, long sleeve top, tshirt, light down vest, hiking shoes, hat. Map: We followed this course. Crowds: Not people evident when walking but lots of people eating bento at the top. […]
November 17th Start&Finish: Takasaka station The weather: Beautiful and sunny, warm in the sunshine, chilly in the shade. Outfit/Equipment: Jeans, tshirt, jumper, lightweight shoes. Map: I walked to the Peace Museum, then on to the Shimininomori. Crowds: There was a stamp rally for kids in the shiminnomori, but not too crazy. Time: Around three hours. […]
November 16th. Start&Finish: Ichigo no sato (michi no eki in Yoshimi) The weather: Cool and cloudy with intermittent sunshine. Outfit/Equipment: Jeans, tshirt, jumper, lightweight shoes, hat. Map: I didn’t follow any particular map. I walked from Ichigo no sato up to Hatchoko park, then back again. Crowds: an occasional dog walker. Time: 2-3 hours. Difficulty: […]