February 1st Start&Finish: Ranzan Keikoku Sightseeing Carpark (嵐山渓谷観光駐車場) The weather: Sunny and surprisingly mild. Outfit/Equipment: Warm trousers, sport long sleeved top, stolen hooded sweatshirt (don’t tell my son), gloves. Map: I had our new hiking map of the area but mostly just followed the signs. Crowds: The occasional hiker and dog walker. Time: 10am to […]
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 […]
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: […]
November 4th Start&Finish: Higashi Matsuyama station to Takasaka station. The weather: Beautiful, warm sunshine. Outfit/Equipment: light trousers, t-shirt, hat, sunglasses, hiking shoes. Map: Google maps and paper maps from the Higashi Matsuyama Walking Center Crowds: Lots of people at the beginning, then thinned out to the odd hiker. Time: Somewhere around 4 hours walking. Difficulty: […]
October 2nd Start&Finish: There’s a very large carpark outside the park. The weather: Lovely, sunny, hot Outfit/Equipment: Jeans, lightweight t-shirt, lightweight shoes, hat, sunglasses. Map: You can find their website here. Crowds: A few people dotted about. Time: Maybe an hour wandering around the area. Difficulty: 5,000 steps