Mount Otake

Hike Name: Mount Otake

Activity: Hiking
Distance: ~15 km (from bus stop)

Altitude: 1,266 m

Elevation Gain: ~700 m (from bus stop)

Area: Japan (Tokyo)

Crew: Bennett

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Takimoto Station

Additional Info:
We found this hike while wanting to escape the crowds of Japan again. It is a ~2 hour train from Tokyo Station + 10 minute bus ride to the trailhead (Takimoto Station). From here, you can either hike up the trail (paved, very narrow road) or take the cable car up to Mitake Station. We hiked up to Mitake Station - it was approx. 3km and 350m (?). From here, you can follow the signs to Mount Otake and walk along a beautiful trail system in this area. It is another ~4km and 350m to the summit. There are a few detours along the way to see the rock garden, Mitake Shrine, waterfalls, etc.
There is a tiny bit of easy scrambling right before the summit, after you hike up behind the Otake shrine area.
On a clear day you can see Fuji, however we had a few clouds. Surprisingly, the warmest weather we felt on our 2 week Japan trip was on the summit of Otake. There was hardly any snow on the hike.

 The biggest adventure was getting here to JR Mitake Station on the trains..

 The path from Takimoto - Mitake Stations. It is a paved road here (which cars drive on!), but after this it becomes earthy trail.

Summit view! No Fuji...

T-Shirts in February!

Mount Diamonji

Hike Name: Mount Daimonji

Activity: Hiking/Trail Running
Distance: ~1.5 m (from Trailhead)

Altitude: 466 m

Elevation Gain: ~220 m

Area: Japan (Kyoto)

Crew: Bennett

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Ginkaku Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Additional Info:
While on our Japan trip, we decided that we needed a day to get away from the crowds. We found a hike behind the Ginkaku-Ji Temple. Although the weather wasn't ideal, we pushed through the light snow and muddy trails to reach the Daimonji viewpoint. You can see Osaka off in the distance on a clear day.

 Bennett and I at the viewpoint

Pano of the view