(川苔山) Mt. Kawanori Hike

It was a gorgeous hike along a lush forest next to a river, both in spring and winter, and all I remember was that this mountain annoyingly has two kanjis - 川乗 and 川苔. Heck, even the summit markers use BOTH the kanjis. Outside of that, definitely a recommended mountain. 

Budget: JPY2,640 (~USD24)

• JPY1,270. Train, Tokyo to Okutama Station. 
• JPY270. Bus, Okutama Station to Kawanori-bashi. 
• JPY1,100. Train, Kori Station to Okutama Station. 

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 1,363m / 4,472ft)

• July 15, 2017, February 23, 2019
• Difficulty:  3-4 out of 5, depending on your route. 
• Route below is around 13.6kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲1,447m/ ▽1,582m (6h15m)
• Map Link 

When to Go
Anytime during the year!

Special Notes

• Weather forecast: Japanese. 
• Trailheads. 
• Kawanori-hashi  (川乗橋). The main trailhead to Mt. Kawanori. Google maps pin, google maps work even with the bus schedule. 
• Train, Tokyo to Okutama Station. 
• Bus, Okutama Station to Kawanori-hashi. Take bus 奥20 or 奥21. Bus schedule.  JPY270, 13 mins one way.  
• Okutama Station (奥多摩駅). Easily accessible with public transportation. 
• Hatonosu Station (鳩ノ巣駅). Easily accessible with public transportation. 
• Kori Station  (古里駅). Easily accessible with public transportation. 
• Mountain huts. 
• Paid. None. 
• Free. None
• Camping. None, but some spots throughout for wild camping. 

Itinerary

• 04:49am. Train, Tokyo to Okutama Station. 
• 07:18am. Arrived at Okutama Station. 
• 07:27am. Bus, Okutama Station to Kawanoribashi. 
• 07:40am. Arrived at Kawanoribashi. Plenty of other people got off too. 
• 09:18am. Arrived at the falls (百尋ノ滝)
• 01:31pm. Arrived at the summit of Mt. Kawanori. 
• 02:23pm. Arrived at Mt. Ebigoya (海老小屋山). Went off trail, got lost a bit, got scared a bit, then got back on trail. 
• 03:34pm. Arrived at Mt. Akaguna. 
• 05:19pm. Arrived at Kori Station, and was soon on our way home. 

Trailhead. 

Beautiful walk. 

Well marked trails. 

Walking next to the river.

Almost to the summit!

Summit marker A. 

Summit marker B. See the different kanji? 

View at the summit. 

Beautiful ridge in winter. 

Some fallen trees, but just had to go around them. 

A very NOT distinct summit market for Mt. Ebigoya. 

Accidentally went off trail, got lost a bit, got scared a bit.

Seeing Mt. Akaguna's marker, I was just so glad to be back on the trail. 

Sunset at the station!