(鉢岡山) Mt. Hachioka Hike (aka Hizure Alps)

Simply a mountain I was looking for as a nearby stretch, Hizure Alps was a pleasant surprise. 

Oh, and on a personal note, this is the first flight of Ms. Tutubi, my drone!!! The shot above is hers!

Budget: JPY2,840 (~USD27) from Tokyo

• JPY2,840. Train, Tokyo < > Fujino Station (JPY1,420 one way)
• OR JPY2,410. One day's worth allocated with Seishun 18 ticket.
• OR JPY950 one way if using the Keio Line to Takao Station. 

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 460m / 1,509ft)

• April 4, 2021
• Difficulty: 2 out of 5
• Route below is around 9.4kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲753m/ ▽751m (3h30m)
• Map Link 

When to Go
Anytime during the year. 

Special Notes

• Weather forecast: Japanese. 
• Trailheads. 
• Fujino Station (藤野駅). Easily accessible via train from Tokyo. The trailheads require a kilometer of so of walking, here's the google maps pins:
• Counterclockwise trailhead: https://goo.gl/maps/bDQZE4cBu5pwhqXA8. 
• Technically accessible via bus from Fujino Station - there's a bus at 8am-ish and 10:30am ish. 
• Clockwise trailhead: https://goo.gl/maps/ezsYaGrSQXW6wWtH8
• Mountain huts. 
• Paid. None.
• Free.  None.
• Camping. None.
• For using YAMAP app, this mountain is included in the Mt. Sekiro, Mt. Ishizare map. 
• This trail is called (日連アルプス) Hizure Alps, with about five or so mountains across the trail. The entire trail has some white markers, from 1 to 11, though the marker 1 starts close to the first summit (Mt. Kongo (金剛山)
• There's only one spot with a view, really, the fork marked "峠への分岐" to the left of 杉峠. 
• Plenty of benches, almost all summits (except Mt. Hachioka's) have a table with them. 
• NO ENGLISH SIGNS. So make sure you know the japanese characters for your hike. 

Itinerary

• 08:04am. Tokyo to Fujino Station. 
• 09:36am. ETA: Fujino Station.
• 10:00am. Start hike.
• 11:45am. ETA: Mt. Hachioka summit.
• 02:30pm. ETA: back at Fujino Station.

Actual Log

• 07:30am. Train, Tokyo to Fujino Station. 
• 09:36am. Arrived at Fujino Station. Walked straight out down the stairs, turned left at the stoplight, followed my google maps to the trailhead. I waited about 30 minutes at the park for my friend. 
• 10:40am. Arrived at the trailhead. It was a relatively steep ascent up. Relatively, because it wasn't really steep. 
• 11:12am. Arrived at Mt. Kongo (金剛山) where we did the first attempt of drone flight. 
• 11:39am. Took a segue to the observation deck. There is one trail and very easy to follow really. We went back to the main trail and walked to Mt. Hachioka, where we walked on rough road until very close to the summit. Likely because the area has a lot of electric (?) towers. 
• 12:29pm. Arrived at Mt. Hachioka (鉢岡山). Retraced our steps back to the fork. 
• 01:13pm. Arrived at Mt. Hizure (日連山)
• 01:59pm. Arrived at the trailhead (clockwise). 
• 02:32pm. Back at Fujino Station!

Taking the Keio Line because it is apparently about JPY500 cheaper one way than JR. 

At Fujino Station. Go straight down, and follow the main road to the stop light and turned left. 

Following my google maps, I turned right here. I could see the mountain I was supposed to hike. 

While at the bridge, I could see the floating boat rental for people who wish to fish. 

Finally at the trailhead!

So.... apparently the place is called Hizure/Hidure Alps. 

The start of the hike. 

Getting a bit steep. 

Plenty of benches. 

Had a peek of the view of the surrounding area. 

Hey lizard!

First marker!

Our first summit! A nice flat spot. You can somewhat see the bench behind the shrine. 

The marker and the shrine. 

A counter for the hikers. Or worshipers. 

Now at marker 2. 

The observation deck. 

The view at the observation deck. 

Mt. Hachioka is out of the way, so follow this sign at the fork. 

It was a straight path. 

Which goes straight to a road. Took the the left one (rough road)

A very difficult to see trail is a shortcut to the left. Either of these trails will take you to the summit. 

Summit! No benches. 

We took the less used trail to the left of the marker. 

Much narrower, and bushy-er. 

Going back to the fork. 

Back at the fork. Took the way to the left. 

Mt. Hizure/Hidure!

Another summit. 

Every now and then don't forget to look up.

The very steep way down, but the ropes were very helpful. 

Almost done!

The WRONG bridge. This is the second bridge we came across to, and do not take the second bridge, turn right. 

Finally at the trailhead (clockwise). 

The rest of the hike - the walk back to Fujino Station. 

Fujino Station!