Alex Quinn's Japan Journal

3/4/2006, Trip to Mt. Kongo (Kongozan) in Osaka prefecture

On Saturday, Akemi took me to a mountain in Osaka prefecture.  The day was pretty simple.  We grabbed some food, took a bus to the trail head, hiked up to the top, got a look at the view, and hiked back down.  It was really beautiful, so I took a lot of pictures.  The hike was fairly steep at times, so the pictures provided nice rest breaks, too.  I'll keep the comments brief since I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Bus ride up to trail head on Mt. Kongo (Kongo-zan)

Bus stop.

Looking down at a small cemetary.

Same cemetary.

Woods at Mt. Kongo.

Akemi on the trail.

Walking the trail.

Walking the trail.

Walking the trail.

Walking the trail.

Looking into a snowy bush.  I like this one.

Walking the trail.

Looking at me.

... and again.

A sign saying, "Just a little longer and you'll be there." It's to comfort weary hikers.

Akemi on the trail.

Bamboo grass (sasa).

Bamboo grass (sasa).

Bamboo grass (sasa).

Bamboo grass (sasa).

Walking the trail.

Walking the trail.

Walking the trail.

Akemi walking the trail.

Walking the trail.

Looking around at the scenery.

Looking around at the scenery.

Looking around at the scenery.

Looking around at the scenery.

At the top.  The sign just gives the name of the place and the elevation (1125 meters, or 3690 feet).

Mother and child playing in the snow.

Shrine.

Shrine.

Shrine.

Walking along the trail.  Just ahead is a slick slope where people in normal shoes can't get up or down without holding onto a rope.

Sign advising people not to hunt with guns.  Many people believe guns are illegal in Japan.  In fact, they are legal for sporting and hunting, but they are heavily regulated.  You have to attend classes, listen to lectures by the police, and pass tests in order to receive permission to purchase and/or own a gun.  In some cases, you have to pass marksmanship tests showing that you have the potential to be a great shooter before they'll allow you to own the more restricted types of guns such as pistols.  Guns are never allowed for self-defense in Japan.

Icicles.

A rest area near the top.

Looking out at the mountains.

... and again.

... and again.

... and again.

... and again.  I love the way the mountains in the distance come together to show "layers" of different shades of color.

Looking across at a little lodge.

Coming down the mountain, it was steep and slick.  Most people were wearing special boots with sharp metal bottoms that prevented them from slipping.  We weren't so smart.  So, we had to go down very, very slowly, holding the fence on the edge of the trail.  That's Akemi in the creme colored jacket.

Akemi again.  Due to the angle, these pictures don't really show the steepness of the hill.  It was as such that it would be impossible for anybody in tennis shoes to get down without either holding the fence or falling repeatedly.

Finally, we got past the icy hill and onto this nice, easy trail.

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