Mount Tsurugi Hike Day
Hike day! Mount Tsurugi is one of Japan's top 100 mountains apparently, and the 2nd highest in Western Japan I read.
I've a 16km route planned.
Suchern might cycle to the cablecar and hike a bit from there.
Last night was so wet before midnight!
My tent floor is very soggy, but the important stuff didn't get too wet. Hopefully a dry-ish day will help!
The other cyclist said he was getting up around 4am. He was mostly packed about 5:30am when I needed to get up to use the facilities!
Torrents
The river certainly looks higher than yesterday - a more thunderous and impressive torrent!
4 May 2026 - 08:01
4 May 2026 - 08:11
4 May 2026 - 08:59
4 May 2026 - 09:29
4 May 2026 - 09:40
Lovely, wide & wooded ridge trail after the wiggly route up in the woods!
From Mount Maruishi
First of today's 3 planned summits
4 May 2026 - 10:39
4 May 2026 - 10:50
4 May 2026 - 11:03
From Mount Jirogyu Summit
Nice early lunch spot (food saved from a few days ago!) just off the summit out of the wind 🙂
It's busy up here!
4 May 2026 - 11:54
The way up to Mount Tsurugi
4 May 2026 - 12:08
4 May 2026 - 12:16
Mount Tsurugi Summit
4 May 2026 - 12:35
4 May 2026 - 13:24
Just met Suchern by the summit - she cycled to the bottom of the chairlift and hiked from there!
4 May 2026 - 13:28
4 May 2026 - 13:38
The chairlift looks a bit basic!
Little free campsite by the top of lift
At 1690m above sea level, it's got to be cold camping here - it was cold enough at 1000m up where we are!
4 May 2026 - 14:03
Shrine
Temple
4 May 2026 - 14:45
Still cherry blossom up here!
4 May 2026 - 15:08
4 May 2026 - 15:17
More waterfalls!
Evening food
We both managed to get back to the campsite from Tsurugi San in time to sort a few wet tent issues and sneak into the cafe opposite the campsite for another meal just before they closed at 5pm. We had been such good patrons, they even gave us their last two onigiri as we were leaving!
The campsite is much busier this evening - 8 or so tents, and I had a short chat in part German, part English, with one of the German cyclists who turned up a little late to get food at the cafe (but had their own food and equipment, so weren't stuck).
I mostly had a fire on my own as Suchern fell asleep and the Japanese guys who lent me their lighter to get it going had their own barbeque, but Suchern joined me for a bit later!