Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    alt.thomas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Tokyo
    Hammock
    Blackbird (Single layer)
    Tarp
    Z-Packs CF w/ door
    Insulation
    Quilts
    Suspension
    Whoopie / Cinch
    Posts
    496

    JAPAN: Mitake and Hatonosu Garden Camp



    I had a free pass from the wife to go out camping on July 27/28 and a weakened typhoon passing the area was not going to stop me. It did however change my plans as I had originally intended to bikepack the foothills of Mt Fuji. Instead I was going to investigate a campground in Okutama while taking the backtrails of Mitake.

    The route that I ended up taking



    Starting back at Kori station




    Trailhead


    By 10am I got a heat advisory...


    ...and it soon got too hot to take any photos...


    ... fingers were always covered in sweat and wrinkles began to form.

    Yay to energy sapping heat and humidity

    Mt. Otsuka rest area


    Mt. Mitake is a popular tourist area that can be reached by bus then cable car from JR Mitake station. On top of the mountain is Musashi Mitake Shrine.
    http://www.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/nat...ake/index.html

    Old house on the way to the shrine



    After climbing a few hundred steps up Mt Mitake, I reached the shrine


    There, I bought a charm for safe passage in the mountains and attached it to my backpack


    Took a short break and then backtracked to a side trail behind the shrine.



    Unfortunately I came across a detour that added unwanted distance and a painful climb up a mountain... not happy.


    Finally reached my destination: Hatonosu Garden Campsite (¥1500 per person per night - 2pm check-in / 10am check-out, but easily negotiable)
    https://goo.gl/maps/jwoYCyGVCYqoviU57


    The campsite is located at the bottom of a gorge and took few minutes and some switch backs before seeing the area.


    The place is small and run down. Bits of junk that cannot be carried away scattered around. But it has plenty of charm and an awesome owner. Down in the gorge, temperatures were very cool and barely any mosquitoes around.
    However, I could only find one pair of trees suitable for hanging and fortunately I was the only person there.

    The owner only speaks Japanese but gets a lot of foreign guest.


    He will reserve the only place to hang a hammock if you call in advance.


    An icy cold stream runs through the grounds and a little farther away, a waterfall and a deep pool beckons for a dive.


    After setting up camp, I went to cool off in the stream. I only managed a minute in chest deep ice water, barely catching my breath. Rushed back to camp to warm up. I couldn’t believe I was shivering while it was over 30*c with +90% humidity above.

    The brunt of the storm passed around midnight and I could feel the wind whipping about outside. The temps dropped and I buried myself under the quilts.


    Breakfast from the hammock ... on a table.
    Luxurious

    Packed up and ready to go


    The rain stopped at around 7 and I was out by 8. I immediately started sweating on the climb back up and continued sweating until I got to the station 20 minutes away. I’ll definitely be back one more time during this summer.
    Last edited by alt.thomas; 07-30-2019 at 06:32.

  2. #2
    Senior Member ofuros's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Australia...Sub-Tropical Qld, Temperate Tasmania & Tropical Thailand
    Hammock
    Madtree Tarseer
    Tarp
    DIY Cuben
    Insulation
    Warm & fluffy
    Suspension
    Slings and Rings
    Posts
    1,309
    Images
    22
    Enjoyable, energy sapping, sweaty wander...thanks for sharing, alt.thomas.
    Always good to glimpse another country's culture too.
    Mountain views are good for the soul....& getting to them is good for my waistline.

    https://ofuros.exposure.co/

  3. #3
    alt.thomas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Tokyo
    Hammock
    Blackbird (Single layer)
    Tarp
    Z-Packs CF w/ door
    Insulation
    Quilts
    Suspension
    Whoopie / Cinch
    Posts
    496
    Quote Originally Posted by ofuros View Post
    Enjoyable, energy sapping, sweaty wander...thanks for sharing, alt.thomas.
    Always good to glimpse another country's culture too.
    I just had to remind myself to slow things down. Awesome finally getting onto the ridge and be met with the cooling winds.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Watkinsville, GA
    Hammock
    Hammeck Netty, Astd. Dutch
    Tarp
    HG DCF Hex, TF
    Insulation
    HG,WLSS,JrB,UGQ,LL
    Suspension
    LW straps/Becket
    Posts
    513
    Thanks for taking us along!

  5. #5
    alt.thomas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Tokyo
    Hammock
    Blackbird (Single layer)
    Tarp
    Z-Packs CF w/ door
    Insulation
    Quilts
    Suspension
    Whoopie / Cinch
    Posts
    496
    Quote Originally Posted by Clisbyclark View Post
    Thanks for taking us along!
    My pleasure

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. Replies: 6
      Last Post: 01-25-2019, 19:24
    2. Replies: 16
      Last Post: 06-22-2018, 01:49
    3. What is Japan auto-camp?
      By alt.thomas in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 23
      Last Post: 06-21-2017, 05:39
    4. the hanging garden
      By brigadiertego in forum Introduce Yourself
      Replies: 1
      Last Post: 05-19-2016, 13:07
    5. Disastrous first camp (Western Japan)
      By sakura1998 in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 25
      Last Post: 11-18-2009, 06:53

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •