The
Chichibu-Tama National Park is a 1250-km2 expanse of
mountains, forests, river sources and rural towns and villages,
around the convergence of Tokyo's western extent with Saitama,
Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures. These mountains offer many of the
more serious hiking experiences within easy reach of Tokyo proper.
Mt.
Mitake (Mitake-san, 御岳山)
is a popular 929m peak at the edge of this region, in Tokyo's outer
district of Ōme. A cable car
provides access to the mountain village and prominent shrine, from where paths
into forested ridges and gorges connect to surrounding peaks. One
of these, Mt. Ōdake (Odake-san,大岳山),
lies across the district border between
Oku-Tama, Tokyo's largest and westermost district, and
Hinohara immediately south, and
at 1267m commands a view spanning from Kanagawa, via Mt.
Fuji, to the heart of the Kanto region's formidable mountainous
hinterland.
The area's paths are well-signposted throughout
and easy to follow. There are several routes between these two
peaks, of varying difficulties, but the one
detailed here proceeds through the Mitake-san "Rock Garden",
a forested ravine of splendid moss-covered rock formations and
waterfalls. Gradients are fair, though there are a number of steep,
sustained ups and downs, especially in that ravine and just before
the Ōdake summit. While not nearly as murderous as the likes of North Takao, the basic hiking essentials
(enough water/food, good footwear, a map and compass, good timing and
awareness, and a reasonable level of fitness) are
highly recommended.
Maps are available at the Mitake Station information centre
(especially of the happy-Japanese-cartoons variety; though closed on
Mondays), but obtaining a survey map of the Oku-Tama area in advance
(e.g. No.23 in the Mapple series) is suggested too.
Mitake-san – Ōdake-san
Length:
Approx. 11km (for the Rock Garden route; shorter paths available)
Hiking
Time:
Approx. 6 hours
Height:
Begins at Mitake upper cable car station, approx. 915m. Rock Garden
route requires a descent of approx 1-200m, followed by a climb back
up. The summit of Ōdake
is at 1267m, its approach posing the steepest climb.
Access (from central Tokyo):
1)
Go to Mitake
Station (御岳駅)
(Chuo Line or alternatives to Tachikawa Station, then JR
Ōme
Line to Mitake – make sure your train is on the main line for
Oku-Tama, and not the branch-off to Musashi-Itsukaichi!).
Depending on where you start, this will take approx. 1h30-2hrs
and cost approx. 1000 yen (one-way).
2)
A bus just outside the station goes to Ke-buru
Shita (bottom of cable car, ケーブル下)
in 10 minutes for 270 yen (one-way). Timetable here (out from
Mitake) and here (back to Mitake) – from left to right,
columns are weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays/public holidays.
3)
The cable car runs approx. every 15 minutes: a ride either way is 6
mins. and costs 570 yen (two-way ticket for 1090 yen). The hike
starts and ends at the top.
SECTIONS:
1)
Mitake-san Village and Shrine
2)
Rock
Garden
3) Ōdake-san
4)
Return
