Golden Week at Tanzawa, Choshi

So here is my version of this hike we went on. On Monday evening we all went out to Takao and spent the night. Early the next morning, we left and took a train and then a bus to the trailhead. The whole first day was uphill through sugi (japanese cedar?) but dry grass and leafless trees when we got higher. I was hoping it would be greener, but the snow had just melted a few weeks before and so it still looked like winter. The first summit, To no dake, was packed with people. Here is a picture of the hut.Then we kept hiking up and down to Mt. Tanzawa, where we spent the night. We got there at about three. It was also crowded, the most annoying group being a bunch of old guys smoking and drinking. The average age of hikers here is well over fifty, including a bunch of older women. Since you can stay in huts, and get meals, it makes it all way more accessible for old people and they have the most time. We hung out and read some mountaineering books by this guy who started doing it when climbing gear meant a rope and pocketful of rocks and string. Made our whole expedition seem a little wimpy. Dinner was surprisingly good, and it was lights out at 8:30, but I still didn't get a lot of sleep because of the snoring. Then we were up at four because of the bento making. So by five we just decided to start hiking and have breakfast on the trail. About and hour later found a little wood platform with a fantastic view of Fuji and ate breakfast there. This early morning was pretty magical, since there was no one else on the trail really, and it was cool and clear, and the views were great. Below are two pictures from the morning.



After the second peak, there was a long, gradual descent down a ridge. We reached the next little town, which was way less charming than I had hoped, but did have ice cream and a 700 year old sugi at the shrine. Officially designated as one of the hundred famous trees of Kanagawa prefecture. Kind of like the hundred famous trees of Oahu, or Orange County.

Walked down the river and took a look. I was very tempted to get in, except that the sign says "Dangerous, Do Not Enter" in characters about five feet high. Could it be because it was right below a dam? Still, the dam wasn't that big and they had a siren for when they were letting excess water through. (The dam looked like it had a couple really nice places to jump from as well, once you'd found a way past the barbed wire fence.)
Had to wait an hour for the bus, which we rode for five miles to another tiny village, and then wait another fifty minutes there for the next bus and then take a train back to Takao. Took about three hours for a 30 miles trip. Bus to go get the kids, get on the train back to Tokyo. All of these multiple transfers on public transportation add up and it's kind of a hassle, but mostly its pretty easy being carless in Tokyo. I did talk to another hiker and get some beta about some streams with multiple waterfalls and places to swim. It isn't really accessible by train, so I just need to convince some friends with cars to come with.
Then on Saturday morning we went surfing in Chiba. I found a glass ball on the beach. Just sitting there in a pile of seaweed on a pretty crowded beach. Mostly they were down farther, but they had all driven by. Everyone just drives and parks on the beach there. We drove by it and I saw it and had them stop the car and ran out and got it.
The waves were maybe head high to a few feet overhead on the sets. The wind died down a little and the tide came up, so by the time we had to leave it was a lot better. Mostly they closed out pretty quick but I caught a few that I was able to stay ahead for a while and one really nice one that I actually made it out the other end. So it's been a pretty fun golden week so far. Monday we have a barbecue at some ward members house. Tuesday there is straw crafts and taiko at the traditional house museum with a bunch of friends.