Minamiashigara is a small town located in Hakone area. It’s really great tourist destination for people who like hiking. There are many hiking routes in the surroundings of this town. This time, I decided to go on a trip called ‘Yamabushidaira Course’. In comparison to the other routes, this one is quite short and takes approximately 2 houres and 40 minutes. If your health and physical condition is not well enough for all- day hiking trip, this one will be perfect for you.

According to the guide book, you can start the trip from two different places, then I chose ‘Jizodo’ spot, from where I was climbing up Mt. Yaguradake by an hour and a half. Mt. Yaguradake is 870 meters high, and I made really great effort to climb it up. However, before I reach there, I had to challenge some difficulties. After first 15 minutes of walking, I saw the beutiful, fast-flowing stream. After taking many pictures of this charming stream, I started to wonder, where is the further route, because I couldn’t find the it anywhere. When I was looking around the surroundings, I suddenly realized that the further part of route is across the stream! The only way to walk up the stream, was going through the cut down tree trunk…The problem was, that the trunk was too thin, to come through it without any difficulties. I tried to do it once, but I came back to the bank, because it was really hard to keep balance and not fall into the water. However, I didn’t want to give up and I made up the other idea. Being focused on every small movement, I get into the opposite side of the stream by moving foreward in a sitting position. I don’t know how, but I menaged it! If I fall into the water, it wouldn’t be dangerous, because the stream was very shallow, but I want to avoid hiking in wet shoes of course.

The next part of the trip was quite tiring, but fortunately, I didn’t have to deal with any other barriers on the route. Hiking was not so easy, because big and thick roots were sticking out the ground and it was very easy to stumble over it. Except of the forest surroundings, route goes via meadows and grasslands, that you can’t get bored of monotonous background. Sometimes lizards and spiders, which I haven’t ever seen before, were appearing on my route. When I finally got into the top, I saw the beautiful lanscapse and people who were having a rest there. Acoording to the guide book, this spot is one of the vantage point of Mt. Fuji, but because of dense clouds, it wasn’t visible. After the short break and eating up the snacks, I started to walk down. Way back was much shorter and it took only one hour to get into the last spot called Yagurazawa.

Summary

I reccomend the ‘Yamabushidaira course’ for people who are not really experienced in hiking or people who aren’t strong enough to go on a long trip. However, tour is quite tiring and there are no shops on the route. Don’t forget about hiking shoes, drinks and snacks then. Also, buses don’t run very often through the route near the start and the finish spot, then let’s check the bus timetable before departure. When you will be ready, let’s go and enjoy it, as I did!

Weronika Golubska

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* This article was written by a trainee from overseas. Please note that there might be spelling and grammar mistakes.