![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cpthornСпочатку я планував велопоїздку вздовж річки Тама на суботу, але потім подивився на прогноз погоди - 32 градуси, вологість 85% і рівень інтенсивність сонячного випромінювання 11 (екстремальна), тому вирішив трохи змінити свої плани і натомість вирішив піти в гори. Як виявилось, це було дуже правильне рішення, бо в горах набагато прохолодніше, ніж в Токіо, особливо починаючи з висоти приблизно 1000 метрів. До речі взимку при переході цієї висотної позначки завжди лежить сніг. Окутама - це гірський масив, який знаходиться одразу на захід від Токіо. Там багато тварин (чорні ведмеді, лисиці), різноманітних птахів та комах (цикади, невеликі павуки, гусениці). Приміським потягом туди їхати 2 години, коштує поїздка приблизно 15 доларів в один бік і це популярне місце відпочинку для токійців. Туди при бажанні можна доїхати навіть на велосипеді, але тоді треба планувати ночівлю десь в готелі або власному наметі. Висота гір в Окутамі - від 1000 до 2000 метрів і вони за виглядом нагадують українські Карпати. Щойно подумалось, що Токіо в цьому плані схожий на Івано-Франківськ, звідки теж можна швидко дістатись до гір, і це є однією з головних причин переїзду людей в це українське місто на постійне проживання навіть з Києва, який стає все менш привабливим через перенаселеність.
Initially I planned to go for a bike trip along Tama river on Saturday, but then I checked the weather forecast - it was supposed to be 32 degrees, the humidity is shocking 85% and the UV intensity is 11 (the extreme level)... so I decided to alter my plans a little bit and went for a solo hiking trip in Okutama. And it was a right decision because it was nice and cool in the mountains, much better than in Tokyo that resembes a giant frying pan these days. When you pass the point of 1000 metres, it becomes noticeably cooler. Normally in winter you would see snow accumulating at this altitude. It takes only 2 hours to get to Okutama from Shinjuku station on a suburban train, so it's a convenient and popular location for a one-day trip. You can go there on a bicycle too, but then you would have to stay overnight somewhere in a mountain ryokan (Japanese hotel) or just a tent. I actually have a large tent, but I've never used it, maybe I'll have a chance to use it in the future, although it's so heavy to carry in a backpack, so ryokan could be a better option if I decide to stay overnight ^^ Okutama mountains are 1000-2000 metres tall and they somewhat resemble Ukrainian Carpathian mountains. There are many birds, animals (black bears, foxes) and insects (small spiders, caterpillars, cicadas) in the forest.
Okutama station welcomes you!
The Gozenyama trail starts at Sakaibashi station, that's a very short ride on a local bus, the bus station is located just in front of Okutama train station, very convenient!
There were only 2 other people on the bus except me, it felt very luxurious, like a private bus haha
I got off at Sakaibashi bridge bus stop, the bridge ends with a tunnel
The view from Sakaibashi bridge of the river valley, I want to swim there someday, I just need to find a way down :)
The wall of green mountains, one of them should be Gozen
Well, it takes a lot of walking on a rural asphalt road just to reach the start of the actual trail, about 45 min, but at least the views are not boring :)
Abandoned car that is slowly disintegrating, it looked better when I walked past it during my previous hike to Gozenyama
A roadside ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel), probably expensive as hell
Nice view
The last part of the road is closed for cars
This is the actual start of the trail. It took me a while to find it. At first, I took a wrong one that was a few hundred metres earlier, but it was a mistake because that "trail" was abandoned long time ago and almost invisible. I've met a fox there (it was too fast for me to take a picture), also some tiny bird attacked me from the top of the tree, probably protecting her nest, then I slowly realized it was not a trail at all, just a forest :) So this is the picture of the real trail start!
There were many stones on the trail and it was quite steep, although no ropes were required
Some stones were huge, covered with moss and very picturesque
A small hut in the forest where you can stay in the rain
The forest
A water well where I washed my face because I was already so sweaty at that point, this water is also drinkable, this is why they inserted a pipe, so you can bring an empty bottle with you and fill it with the clean mountain water! It's very cold.
This is pretty
More stones on the trail
The peak of Mount Gozen! The altitude is 1405 metres
The views from the top are beautiful. Mount Fuji is also supposed to be there, on the left, but there was too much fog in the atmosphere, limiting the visibility
The descent started with even bigger stones lol
A breathtaking view of Ogouchi Reservoir (Lake Okutama) from an observation deck. It supplies Tokyo with drinking water. The area is 26,288 ha, which is equivalent to about 40% of the 23 Wards in Tokyo! It is really enormous. Sorry for the horrible picture quality, my smartphone camera just doesn't know how to process all these huge clouds of fog in HDR mode :) I didn't take my bigger camera with a big lens because it is too heavy to carry in a backpack during a summer hike in such hot and humid conditions.
The descent to the lake was very steep and very difficult. Portions of the trail didn't look like a trail at all and resembled a rock climbing. Once there was a huge trunk of a fallen tree completely blocking the way. Also a warning about some forest bees. Well, at least they appear to be normal forest bees, not wasps, some wasps can be very aggressive and territorial, especially "Suzumebachi" (huge Japanese hornets).
Then, while approaching a dam, I noticed these old stairs which led me to another observation deck!
It even had wooden tables and benches
I took pictures of Ogouchi dam from the deck, it looked spectacular in the evening light
The Construction of Ogouchi Dam began in November 1938. After an interruption due to the war, it was completed in November 1957, over the course of 19 years with relocation of 945 households, ultimate sacrifices of 87 people, and the total construction cost of 15 billion yen.
Height of Dam - 149ｍ
Length of Dam - 353ｍ
It's a bit scary to look down lol
Another observation deck
Ogouchi Reservoir in the evening light, the water level was very high after the rainy season
Tokyo Olympics official mascots :)
This red fire engine looks cool
Roadside flowers
Initially I planned to go for a bike trip along Tama river on Saturday, but then I checked the weather forecast - it was supposed to be 32 degrees, the humidity is shocking 85% and the UV intensity is 11 (the extreme level)... so I decided to alter my plans a little bit and went for a solo hiking trip in Okutama. And it was a right decision because it was nice and cool in the mountains, much better than in Tokyo that resembes a giant frying pan these days. When you pass the point of 1000 metres, it becomes noticeably cooler. Normally in winter you would see snow accumulating at this altitude. It takes only 2 hours to get to Okutama from Shinjuku station on a suburban train, so it's a convenient and popular location for a one-day trip. You can go there on a bicycle too, but then you would have to stay overnight somewhere in a mountain ryokan (Japanese hotel) or just a tent. I actually have a large tent, but I've never used it, maybe I'll have a chance to use it in the future, although it's so heavy to carry in a backpack, so ryokan could be a better option if I decide to stay overnight ^^ Okutama mountains are 1000-2000 metres tall and they somewhat resemble Ukrainian Carpathian mountains. There are many birds, animals (black bears, foxes) and insects (small spiders, caterpillars, cicadas) in the forest.
Okutama station welcomes you!
The Gozenyama trail starts at Sakaibashi station, that's a very short ride on a local bus, the bus station is located just in front of Okutama train station, very convenient!
There were only 2 other people on the bus except me, it felt very luxurious, like a private bus haha
I got off at Sakaibashi bridge bus stop, the bridge ends with a tunnel
The view from Sakaibashi bridge of the river valley, I want to swim there someday, I just need to find a way down :)
The wall of green mountains, one of them should be Gozen
Well, it takes a lot of walking on a rural asphalt road just to reach the start of the actual trail, about 45 min, but at least the views are not boring :)
Abandoned car that is slowly disintegrating, it looked better when I walked past it during my previous hike to Gozenyama
A roadside ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel), probably expensive as hell
Nice view
The last part of the road is closed for cars
This is the actual start of the trail. It took me a while to find it. At first, I took a wrong one that was a few hundred metres earlier, but it was a mistake because that "trail" was abandoned long time ago and almost invisible. I've met a fox there (it was too fast for me to take a picture), also some tiny bird attacked me from the top of the tree, probably protecting her nest, then I slowly realized it was not a trail at all, just a forest :) So this is the picture of the real trail start!
There were many stones on the trail and it was quite steep, although no ropes were required
Some stones were huge, covered with moss and very picturesque
A small hut in the forest where you can stay in the rain
The forest
A water well where I washed my face because I was already so sweaty at that point, this water is also drinkable, this is why they inserted a pipe, so you can bring an empty bottle with you and fill it with the clean mountain water! It's very cold.
This is pretty
More stones on the trail
The peak of Mount Gozen! The altitude is 1405 metres
The views from the top are beautiful. Mount Fuji is also supposed to be there, on the left, but there was too much fog in the atmosphere, limiting the visibility
The descent started with even bigger stones lol
A breathtaking view of Ogouchi Reservoir (Lake Okutama) from an observation deck. It supplies Tokyo with drinking water. The area is 26,288 ha, which is equivalent to about 40% of the 23 Wards in Tokyo! It is really enormous. Sorry for the horrible picture quality, my smartphone camera just doesn't know how to process all these huge clouds of fog in HDR mode :) I didn't take my bigger camera with a big lens because it is too heavy to carry in a backpack during a summer hike in such hot and humid conditions.
The descent to the lake was very steep and very difficult. Portions of the trail didn't look like a trail at all and resembled a rock climbing. Once there was a huge trunk of a fallen tree completely blocking the way. Also a warning about some forest bees. Well, at least they appear to be normal forest bees, not wasps, some wasps can be very aggressive and territorial, especially "Suzumebachi" (huge Japanese hornets).
Then, while approaching a dam, I noticed these old stairs which led me to another observation deck!
It even had wooden tables and benches
I took pictures of Ogouchi dam from the deck, it looked spectacular in the evening light
The Construction of Ogouchi Dam began in November 1938. After an interruption due to the war, it was completed in November 1957, over the course of 19 years with relocation of 945 households, ultimate sacrifices of 87 people, and the total construction cost of 15 billion yen.
Height of Dam - 149ｍ
Length of Dam - 353ｍ
It's a bit scary to look down lol
Another observation deck
Ogouchi Reservoir in the evening light, the water level was very high after the rainy season
Tokyo Olympics official mascots :)
This red fire engine looks cool
Roadside flowers
