At a Glance: The Beauty of Bonomine

Posted on 02/19/2021 Last updated on 04/16/2021

Top photo: provided by MUSUBI staff member, used with permission

Bonomine is one of the hidden gems Japan is famous for. If you need to refresh your mind, body, and soul with some clean mountain air, look no further than this mountain and its enchanting gorge. Bonomine (棒ノ嶺) has the delicate beauty and aesthetic that we all imagine in our minds when we think of Japan. Head out early, strap on some hiking shoes, and pack a lunch, because this is an all-day event.

Bonomine is the name of a mountaintop just a little west of Hanno, Saitama. The mountain itself is nice and has a great view, but the main appeal of this trip is the gorge trail leading up to the summit. A trickling stream creates pools that collect flower petals in the spring and maple leave in the fall. The landscape has the ability to instantly transcend you into a Zen-like state-of-mind. With each bend of the gorge a new awe-inspiring scene presents itself before your eyes.

The gorge goes straight up to the ridge and is a steep one. In some places ropes and chains are set in place to aid hikers upward. Despite this, the route is completely safe and doesn’t require any special set of skills. A beginner can do this hike. For someone who hasn’t gone on a hike in a long time, they will feel tired and want to rest, especially if going for the peak. Try not to take too many long breaks, especially if you plan to climb to the peak.

The beautiful gorge abruptly ends and a dirt road that comes out of nowhere after about an hour of hiking with no stops. This is a good place to decide if you want to continue on to the summit of Bonomine or take the ridge trail back to the bus stop. The ridge to the summit takes another hour. Going down from the road, back to the onsen and bus stop, takes about 90 minutes.

If you take the summit option, you are awarded with a great view of the Chichibu mountains and the Kanto Plain. The summit has a big grassy area and plenty of places to enjoy a well-deserved picnic.

From the summit back to the road takes about two hours and is on a beaten-down path along a ridge. At the end of the trail is Sawarabinoyu Onsen, where you can enjoy a nice hot bath if you wish. Otherwise, you can head to the parking lot and wait for the next city bus to pick you up and whisk you back to civilization.

The gorge, summit, onsen, and even the bus ride through the countryside to the trailhead all combine to create a near-perfect activity for just about anyone. And best of all, if you live in Tokyo, it’s all less than a day away!

Access: To get to the trailhead it is necessary to take a train to Hanno Station (about 1 hour from Shinjuku), take the North Exit No.2 Bus Stop. Then take a local bus 1 (to Yunosawa) or 2 (to Naguri Shako) ride it for about 40 minutes. Get off at Kawamata Naguriko Iriguchi. From the bus stop, look for signs to Sawarabinoyu Onsen, then head up to the dam. The entrance to the gorge trail is on the left when facing the dam.

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Photo Credits:

Top photo: provided by MUSUBI staff member, used with permission

Additional photos provided by Adam Mathews, used with permission