I love autumn. I love it when the summer’s heat starts to cool down and the colors of the leaves are changing. And to enjoy this season to the fullest, me and my husband did some hiking just near Tokyo.
First we went to Mt. Mitake in Okutuma region, westernmost part of Tokyo. Train ride was about an two hours from our station (30 minutes from Nishi-Kasai to Nakano and then an hour and half to Mitake.
When my husband’s parents from Germany came to visit during the last week of October, we also did some hiking in Kamakura, a city in Kanagawa south of Tokyo. Our trail started in Zuirokusan Engkakuji in Kita Kamura then we walked up to Genjiyama Park down to Kuzuharagaoka Shrine up again to Sasuke Inare Shrine and then to the Todajii Temple where the Great Daibutsu is located. On our way home, we had a small walk along the coast before we went back home through Kamakura station.
Sometime in mid-November we headed to Mt. Takao, still in Tokyo, for our final autumn exploration. Since it is only an hour away from Central Tokyo, the place is bombarded by both local and foreign tourists who want to enjoy nature without being far from the city. Among its eight trails, my husband and I chose trail no. 6 (Natural Research Road Course) to have a more feel of the forest hike. When we reached the observatory deck, we were lucky to have a glimpse of Mt. Fuji.
And the best way to end our autumn hike is a warm sake!
