Tokyo Fun Hikes and Day Trips

Mt. Kobotoke-Shiroyama 小仏城山 hiking 🥾 Kanto Fureai no Michi lake trail

Sun, Feb 15 · 8:55 AM JST

Takaosanguchi Station, 〒193-0844 東京都八王子市高尾町２２４１, Tokyo, JP

Welcome to Tokyo Fun Hikes and Day Trips.

Signing up early helps get the event noticed and attracts more people. Of course you can change your mind and cancel later if you need to.
早めに登録していただくと、このイベントが目に留まりやすくなり、参加者も増えます。もちろん大丈夫です — 後で気が変わってキャンセルしても問題ありません。

—

To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.

Mount Kobotoke-Shiroyama (小仏城) once hosted a small feudal-era fortress, giving it the name “castle mountain.” Today, it offers peaceful forest trails and scenic viewpoints along the Takao–Jinba ridge.

Unlike Mt. Takao’s eight hiking courses which heave with hikers especially on weekends comparatively few tackle this southern ridge course.

Course blog post

We will meet at Keio Takaosanguchi Station BEFORE 8.55am. Please kindly ensure you arrive punctually.
There is a Keio Line service departing Shinjuku (bound for Keio-Hachioji) at 7.47am, arriving at Kitano at 8.30am. Cross the platform for the 8.31am departure, arriving at Takaosanguchi at 8.45am.

◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Mt. Kobotoke hiking - 15th February] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
If you would like to bring a guest, please ask me via Line.

◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマークにLINEしてください。
例: [Mt. Kobotoke hiking - 15th February] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
定員の都合上、お連れ様がいる時は事前にLINEでご相談ください。

OUR ROUTE:

From Takaosanguchi Station turn right and head up the main road shadowing a stream on your right. After passing under the freeway flyover and crossing a pedestrian bridge shortly thereafter you’ll reach Umenokidaira 梅の木平 which marks the beginning of the Lake Trail (Mizuumi no michi) section of the Kanto Fureai no Michi.

The trail is well marked albeit a number of the signs are faded or missing the ubiquitous round light green logo. As you wander the quiet backroads the first landmark to look for is the Ukai Chikutei restaurant nestled in manicured gardens. Stick to the gentle sloping forestry road and keep an eye on the odd sign pointing towards Takao Green Center 高尾グリーンセンター and thus the trailhead proper.

From the chained off road, the trail narrows as it winds its way up to Misawa Pass 三沢峠 which has some wooden tables.

To the east a path heads up to Mt. Kusatoyama 草戸山, but here we continue west along the Kanto Fureai no Michi.

The undulating ridgeline first climbs Mt. Takamitsu-Terayama 泰光寺山 475 m and on the descent passes a cool looking owl carved from a tree stump.

About 40 minutes from Misawa Pass the outlook finally opens up with views of the Tanzawa range, Fujisan, and Tsukui Lake 津久井湖 below.

Next up is a short ascent to Mt. Nakazawa 中沢山 494 m adorned with a stone kannon and Nakazawa Pass 中沢峠 denoted by a simple triangulation point. There are plenty of maki-michi まき道 or winding paths around rather than over these peaks to save time and effort.

The final two ‘mountains’ before arriving at Otarumi Pass 大垂水峠 are Mt. Konpirayama コンピラ山 515 m and Mt. Obora 大洞山 536 m. Otarumi Pass was another casualty of Typhoon Hagibis and has temporary scaffolding propping up the trail.

Immediately after crossing the footbridge over the National Route 20 (Koshu Kaido) turn left and look for some stairs that re-join the mountain trail.

From here you need to regain lost elevation as you head up to Mt. Kobotoke-Shiroyama 小仏城山 670 m the highest point along the hike. It will take around an hour to reach a trail branch which puts you within 100 metres of the summit.

The mountaintop is home to two teahouses, the Shiroyama Teahouse on the Kanagawa Prefectural side, and Harumi Teahouse on the Tokyo side which do a brisk trade on weekends.

A good place to have lunch is on an open grassland about 20 minutes back towards Mt. Takao. From this lunch spot it’s an easy 30-minute hike to Mt. Takao 高尾山 599 m and a further hour after that via the Inariyama Trail back to Takaosanguchi Station.

Expected distance 18km, walking time 6.5 hours.

Please remember to bring your lunch with you.

Additional fees (approximate):
None

Event fee:
¥750 (discount fee) limited to the first 5 applicants (make sure you contact me on LINE immediately!) - payment is required via PayPay within 24 hours and is non-refundable. If you think you may need to cancel, then choose the option below ⬇️
¥1250 (regular prepaid fee) if you pay by 7pm on 14th February (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (15th February) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).

If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).

Cancellation policy:

• Full refund given for ¥1250 payments if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 36 hours before the event start time.
• Reservation and then no-showing without prepayment requires full payment of the event fee via PayPay within 24 hours. Further non-payment will result in removal from the group.

Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on Facebook

After the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:

1. I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
2. Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
3. We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
4. We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
5. The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
6. The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.

How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details).

Yugawara (Makuyama) hiking 🥾 and “plum blossom banquet” ゆがわらばいりん「うめのうたげ」

Sun, Feb 22 · 9:45 AM JST

湯河原駅 Yugawara Station, 神奈川県足柄下郡湯河原町宮下670, Ashigarashimo District, JP

To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.

On the foot slope of "Makuyama" where magnificent natural scenery can be seen throughout the four seasons, approximately 4,000 red and white plum trees bloom like a carpet of plum blossoms, and fill the area with the fragrance of plum blossoms, allowing you to enjoy a "plum blossom banquet".

We will meet at JR Yugawara Station BEFORE 9.45am. Please kindly ensure you arrive punctually. We will be taking a bus shortly afterwards.

◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Yugawara plum event - 22nd February] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
If you would like to bring a guest, please ask me via Line.

◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマークにLINEしてください。
例:[Yugawara plum event - 22nd February] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
定員の都合上、お連れ様がいる時は事前にLINEでご相談ください。

The Makuyama & Nangoyama Hiking Course
Walking time: about 3 hours and 30 minutes

From the top of Mt. Nangoyama, 610 meters above sea level, the vista of Manazuru Peninsula jutting into Sagami Bay is quite a beautiful sight.

If you are interested in history, be sure to visit Jikansui Pond on this hiking course! Legend has it that it is where Yoritomo Minamoto fled to after losing the Battle of Ishibashiyama, and where he would have committed suicide after seeing his pitiful visage reflected upon the water’s surface, had his hand not been stayed by his ally, local clan leader Sanehira Doi. It is also known as “Jigaisui,” with “jigai” meaning “to commit suicide.”

As you stroll, nearby you can also see the remains of Shodo Jizo-do (“hall for guardian deities”) ― the Jizo-do appears in “Genpei Seisuiki” (“The Rise and Fall of the Minamoto and the Taira clans”), and is a good place for contemplating the Warring States period of Japan.

OUR ROUTE:

We will take a bus for Kajiya from Yugawara Station, taking about 10 minutes.

Shortly after going up the wide paved road in front of Goro Shrine, you’ll come to the branching road which leads to Mt. Nangoyama. Here, go straight ahead towards Makuyama. You can see the Shiroyama range clearly on the left side, and before long Makuyama will come into view ahead and to the right.

Walk along the narrow paved path, and you’ll see Makuyama Park on the left-hand side, and an ume (Japanese plum) grove with 4,000 trees on your right. A large guide map, reading “2,200 meters to the mountaintop,” marks the start of the trail.

About 30 minutes from the trailhead, you’ll come to an observatory with a rest house, and a scenic outlook of Manazuru Peninsula and the Shiroyama area stretching out in the distance. As you climb up, you’ll get a wider view of Yugawara’s streets and the area around Ito.

After about 40 minutes from the rest house, you will come to the footpath circling the top of Makuyama, covered with various seasonal plants and flowers that make for a pleasant walk.

A grassy hill here offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Boso Peninsula in the far east, Izu Peninsula in the west, the Shiroyama range nearby, the Nangoyama area, and other places. It is an ideal place for taking a bento lunch break.

Back at Goro Shrine, you can wait for a bus to return to Yugawara Station, or walk to the station in about 35 minutes.

Makuyama & Nangoyama Hiking Course
(blog post)

Hiking course video

Information about the festival at nearby Makuyama Park
(only if we have time during the route)

Additional fees (approximate):
Bus ¥440 (return fare)

Event fee:
¥750 limited to the first 5 applicants (make sure you contact me on LINE immediately!) - payment is required via PayPay within 24 hours and is non-refundable. If you think you may need to cancel, then choose the option below ⬇️
¥1250 if you pay by 7pm on 21st February (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (22nd February) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).

If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).

Cancellation policy:

• Full refund given for ¥1250 payments if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 36 hours before the event start time.
• Reservation and then no-showing without prepayment requires full payment of the event fee via PayPay within 24 hours. Further non-payment will result in removal from the group.

Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on Facebook

After the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:

1. I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
2. Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
3. We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
4. We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
5. The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
6. The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.

How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details).

Kamakura Hokukuji to Konandai hiking 🥾 via Mt Omaru

Sun, Mar 1 · 10:15 AM JST

鎌倉駅 Kamakura station, 神奈川県鎌倉市小町一丁目1-1, Kamakura, JP

Welcome to Tokyo Fun Hikes and Day Trips.

Signing up early helps get the event noticed and attracts more people. Of course you can change your mind and cancel later if you need to.
早めに登録していただくと、このイベントが目に留まりやすくなり、参加者も増えます。もちろん大丈夫です — 後で気が変わってキャンセルしても問題ありません。

To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.

—

Kamakura area is a great place for hiking, especially during the colder months. The trails are easy to walk, the surrounding nature is lush even in winter. Kamakura has lots of hiking trails, leading to amazing viewpoints.

We will meet at Kamakura Station BEFORE 10.15am. Please kindly ensure you arrive punctually. We will take a bus at 10.25am.

Route blog post

Sugimoto Kannon 杉本寺

◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Kamakura/Konandai hike - 1st March] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
If you would like to bring a guest, please ask me via Line.

◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマークにLINEしてください。
例: [Kamakura/Konandai hike - 1st March] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
定員の都合上、お連れ様がいる時は事前にLINEでご相談ください。

OUR ROUTE:

We will begin by taking a bus to Hokukuji 報国寺. There is a beautiful bamboo forest inside, along with a renowned tea house where you are served matcha and sweets. However, since our group have visited several times recently, we won’t include this in our event. If you wish to visit Hokukuji (opening time 9am), please make sure you meet us at the Jomyoji bus stop no later than 10.40am. Please make sure you inform me clearly via LINE message if you wish to go to the temple.

We will begin by heading to Sugimoto-dera, founded in the 8th century and is the oldest temple in Kamakura (entry ¥200).

After that, we will head via Kamakura-gu towards Yofukuji ruins. Soon our path will be running alongside and above a huge cemetery.

There are good information boards along the way, showing the extent of the local hiking trails: they connect several community woods, a nature sanctuary, and even a small zoo. There is also a pond in the middle of the forest.

Follow the signs for Kanazawa Bunko 金沢文庫 (not the final destination). We will reach the Sekiyaoku viewpoint 関谷奥見晴台.

Then follow signs for Konandai station 港南台.

We will reach the turn-off for a long staircase leading to the top of Mt Omaru 大丸山, the highest point of Yokohama city. for a view to the South of Tokyo Bay and the Eastern end of the Miura Alps.

It will take a further hour to reach Isshindo Plaza いっしんどう広場, a wide area where several trails intersect. Apparently you can see Mt Fuji from the West side in good weather.

Continue another fifteen minutes along a dirt trail through the countryside to get back to the busy city roads. There will be some good views of the hills of Kamakura to the East.

Please bring your lunch either you.

Expected distance 10km, walking time 5 hours

Additional fees (approximate):
Sugimoto-dera temple entry fee ¥200.

Event fee:
¥750 (discount fee) limited to the first 5 applicants (make sure you contact me on LINE immediately!) - payment is required via PayPay within 24 hours and is non-refundable. If you think you may need to cancel, then choose the option below ⬇️
¥1250 (regular prepaid fee) if you pay by 7pm on 28th February (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (1st March) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).

If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).

Cancellation policy:

• Full refund given for ¥1250 payments if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 36 hours before the event start time.
• Reservation and then no-showing without prepayment requires full payment of the event fee via PayPay within 24 hours. Further non-payment will result in removal from the group.

Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on Facebook

After the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:

1. I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
2. Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
3. We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
4. We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
5. The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
6. The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.

How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details).

Mt Ogiri hiking 🥾 via Kanto Fureai no Michi　関東ふれあいの道

Sun, Mar 8 · 10:00 AM JST

Ogawamachi Station, Otsuka, Ogawa, Hiki District, Saitama, JP

Welcome to Tokyo Fun Hikes and Day Trips.

Signing up early helps get the event noticed and attracts more people. Of course you can change your mind and cancel later if you need to.
早めに登録していただくと、このイベントが目に留まりやすくなり、参加者も増えます。もちろん大丈夫です — 後で気が変わってキャンセルしても問題ありません。

To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.

—

Route blog post

Mt Ogiri hike video

We will meet at Ogawamachi Station (in Saitama) BEFORE 10am. Please kindly ensure you arrive punctually. Will be taking a bus to Kaiya (皆谷) departing at 10.16am.
There is a Tobu-Tojo Line Express train departing Ikebukuro at 8.36am, arriving at Ogawamachi at 9.51am. This is the latest possible train you should take.

◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Mt Ogiri hike - 8th March] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
If you would like to bring a guest, please ask me via Line.

◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマークにLINEしてください。
例: [Mt Ogiri hike - 8th March] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
定員の都合上、お連れ様がいる時は事前にLINEでご相談ください。

OUR ROUTE:

The first part of the hike takes us from the base of the valley, almost entirely along deserted country lanes, to the open shelter at the Kayunita Pass (粥仁田峠), where we will turn left onto the Fureai no Michi Outer Chichibu 7 Peaks Traverse (90 minutes).

The next part is from the Kayunita pass to the summit, is up a proper hiking trail, and should take half an hour. It is mostly in the forest with a view of Higashi-Chichibu through a gap in the trees mid-way.

At the summit there are benches for a lunch break.

Afterwards, we will continue until we reach the Old Sadamine Pass (旧定峰峠) less than an hour later. This up and down section is also mostly in the trees, except for a view of Mt Kasa and Mt Dodaira beyond a field on the left side.

At the Old Sadamine Pass, a crossway surrounded by tall cedars, turn right and head down the valley towards Sadamine, leaving the Fureai no Michi and 7 Peaks Traverse which will continue straight along the ridgeline.

A signboard nearby recounted the Legend of Daidarabotchi, including the origin of Mt Ogiri:
Long ago, there was a giant named Daidabo who lived in the Musashi Plain. One day, on his way to Mt. Haguro, he straddled the Chichibu Mountains, sitting on Sadamine Pass, and putting his straw hat on top of Mt Kasa. He stretched out his legs toward the nearby Yokogawa Rive and, placing his bowl of cooked rice gruel on Kayunita Pass, enjoyed his lunch. After he finished eating, he placed his chopsticks (made from two logs) into the ground and stood up, accidentally leaving a large rock behind that had been supporting his lower back. He then took a sip of water from the Arakawa River and blew it out—this is said to have formed Mt. Ōgiri. To this day, the footprints left behind by the giant remain in the form of wetlands and marshes in the upper reaches of the Yokogawa River and in the mountains around Shiraiwa.

The last part of the hike is a straightforward descent through forest. It is a 30-minute walk back to the road near Sadamine and a bus stop for a ride to Chichibu station.

Please bring your lunch with you.

Expected distance 14km, walking time 4.5~5 hours

Additional fees (approximate):
Bus Ogawamachi to Kaiya (皆谷), ¥510 (30 mins)
Bus Sadamine (定峰) to Chichibu, ¥294 (40 mins)

Event fee:
¥750 (discount fee) limited to the first 5 applicants (make sure you contact me on LINE immediately!) - payment is required via PayPay within 24 hours and is non-refundable. If you think you may need to cancel, then choose the option below ⬇️
¥1250 (regular prepaid fee) if you pay by 7pm on 7th March (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (8th March) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).

If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).

Cancellation policy:

• Full refund given for ¥1250 payments if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 36 hours before the event start time.
• Reservation and then no-showing without prepayment requires full payment of the event fee via PayPay within 24 hours. Further non-payment will result in removal from the group.

Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on Facebook

After the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:

1. I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
2. Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
3. We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
4. We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
5. The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
6. The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.

How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details).