June 26, 2011...Mt. Koushuu Takao
Japan's minami alps.
Place: Koushuu Takao/甲州高尾山
Height: 1106 Meters
Total Hiking Time: 4 hours
Level: Moderate
Time: Meet Shinjuku Station at 8:30
Access: Take JR Chuo Special Express from Shinjuku Station to Takao Station. Change to regular Chuou train to Katsunuma Budo Kyoo (勝沼ぶどう卿駅).
(1 hour 50 minutes/1890 Yen).
Getting Back: Same.
Mt. Koushuu-Takao is located in Yamanashi Prefecture in the middle of Japan's grape country. Koushuu-Takao, not to be confused with the more famous Mt. Takao, is about a five hour hike. This place is also a great spot for:
1) Viewing local vineyards
2) Grape hunting (ブドウ狩り) in summer
2) Viewing Japan's southern alps (南アルプス)
3) A 140 meter waterfall
4) Daizen-ji temple
5) Outdoor onsen
Starting out from the Katsunuma-Budoukyo station, you'll pass through the local vineyards. In you want to eat grapes, the grape hunting season starts around July and August.
After passing through the vineyards, you'll reach the start of the trail at Daizen-ji temple (大善寺). Originally built in 1286, this temple is a National Treasure, and boasts a statue of the Yakushi Buddha holding grapes. A “Healing Wine God” if you will.
There is a charge to enter where you can sample wine. However, the start of the hike is fairly steep. I decided to pass on the wine and go straight to the hiking trail.
After about an hour hike through the pines and other trees, you'll eventually be able to walk along a ridge while viewing Japan's southern alps (南アルプス) on your right side. Looking down, you'll see the large number of vineyards spread out over the area.
After about a 2 hour hike to the summit, you can have a good view of the surrounding mountains.
The trail going down winds its way down to a 140-meter waterfall. It is possible to hike up the rocks to get a closer view of the waterfall. However, it is very dangerous, unless you are experienced at rock climbing.
After passing the waterfall, you can head down a windy road and return back to the vineyards.
As you return back to Katsunuma-Budoukyo station, you will see "Budo no Oka" on the large hill on the opposite side of the station. Here, there is an onsen (hot spring) with a view of the southern alps. They also have an outdoor hot spring, or "露天風呂."
They of course have lots of food including, soba, udon, and even barbeque. It is a great place for trying the local Yamanashi wine. They even have a "tasting cup" you can purchase for sampling "freely."
Total hiking time should be about 4 hours. Total hiking distance is 12 kilometers. We will start at 400 meters and hike up to about 1106 meters at the Mt. Koushuu Takao summit.
(*If you go in April, you can also see cherry blossoms in bloom around the train station.)
Height: 1106 Meters
Total Hiking Time: 4 hours
Level: Moderate
Time: Meet Shinjuku Station at 8:30
Access: Take JR Chuo Special Express from Shinjuku Station to Takao Station. Change to regular Chuou train to Katsunuma Budo Kyoo (勝沼ぶどう卿駅).
(1 hour 50 minutes/1890 Yen).
Getting Back: Same.
Mt. Koushuu-Takao is located in Yamanashi Prefecture in the middle of Japan's grape country. Koushuu-Takao, not to be confused with the more famous Mt. Takao, is about a five hour hike. This place is also a great spot for:
1) Viewing local vineyards
2) Grape hunting (ブドウ狩り) in summer
2) Viewing Japan's southern alps (南アルプス)
3) A 140 meter waterfall
4) Daizen-ji temple
5) Outdoor onsen
Starting out from the Katsunuma-Budoukyo station, you'll pass through the local vineyards. In you want to eat grapes, the grape hunting season starts around July and August.
After passing through the vineyards, you'll reach the start of the trail at Daizen-ji temple (大善寺). Originally built in 1286, this temple is a National Treasure, and boasts a statue of the Yakushi Buddha holding grapes. A “Healing Wine God” if you will.
There is a charge to enter where you can sample wine. However, the start of the hike is fairly steep. I decided to pass on the wine and go straight to the hiking trail.
After about an hour hike through the pines and other trees, you'll eventually be able to walk along a ridge while viewing Japan's southern alps (南アルプス) on your right side. Looking down, you'll see the large number of vineyards spread out over the area.
After about a 2 hour hike to the summit, you can have a good view of the surrounding mountains.
The trail going down winds its way down to a 140-meter waterfall. It is possible to hike up the rocks to get a closer view of the waterfall. However, it is very dangerous, unless you are experienced at rock climbing.
After passing the waterfall, you can head down a windy road and return back to the vineyards.
As you return back to Katsunuma-Budoukyo station, you will see "Budo no Oka" on the large hill on the opposite side of the station. Here, there is an onsen (hot spring) with a view of the southern alps. They also have an outdoor hot spring, or "露天風呂."
They of course have lots of food including, soba, udon, and even barbeque. It is a great place for trying the local Yamanashi wine. They even have a "tasting cup" you can purchase for sampling "freely."
Total hiking time should be about 4 hours. Total hiking distance is 12 kilometers. We will start at 400 meters and hike up to about 1106 meters at the Mt. Koushuu Takao summit.
(*If you go in April, you can also see cherry blossoms in bloom around the train station.)