Thursday, May 8, 2008

Mitake Hike (Golden Week)

Just when we all thought it was getting warmer (it did), it's suddenly getting colder over the next few days again (tomorrow's high is a chilly 14 degrees). Japan has to count as one of those places where the weather changes quickly even within a day.

Golden week flew by faster than I could say "休み!"

Saturday: Mori Tower (Roppongi Hills), Dinner
Sunday: Mitake Hike (pics below)
Monday: Shinrinkoen (Cycling)
Tuesday: Akihabara, Harajuku, Ikebukuro

Sunday and Monday wore us out so decided to sleep in late on Tuesday and do *some* work before going downtown in the evening.

Mitake Hike (4 May)

"Mount Mitake (Mitakesan) is one of the many highlights of the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, which covers more than 1250 square kilometers of forested mountains, hills, gorges and some rural towns in the prefectures of Yamanashi, Saitama, Nagano and Tokyo.
Besides a popular shrine, Mount Mitake offers various walking and hiking opportunities in virtually unspoiled nature. Located in the Okutama region, the westernmost part of Tokyo, the mountain can be reached in less than two hours from central Tokyo, and is accordingly popular among people looking for a break from the city. "

Had planned to go to Meiji Shrine but it was hard to pass on a chance to finally get out of the city (but not exactly escape the crowd) for some fresh, mountain air! With other Singaporeans and their friends.

Some parts got quite steep and slippery but children and old folks thronged the place anyway too with their walking sticks and backpacks - so it shouldn't have been too much of a problem for us young people (right?).


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About 2 hours' journey from Asakadai.

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Cable car - a short but really steep ride that looked more like a rollercoaster ride
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More like a densha than cable car

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Climb, climb
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20 minutes of steep downhill steps (and later back uphill) to reach this small waterfall

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The climb back

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Group pic before the hike - most of the smiles would have been replaced by tired faces by the end of it all

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