Reconnect with Nature at Sacred Mt. Oyama

Top Photo: “Mt. Ōyama seen from Mt. Sannotō, Kanagawa, Japan” by Σ64, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. (cc-by-SA-3.0). No changes or alterations were made.  Wikimedia Commons Link

The majestic Mount Oyama (Kanagawa)

While Tokyo and other large cities in Japan have their charms, over time you may desire to escape the drab greyness of the concrete jungle and head for the fresh air, exercise, and green colors of the countryside. In Kanagawa, in around one hour from Tokyo, you can find a natural getaway at Mt. Oyama, offering refreshing mountain air, various hiking trails and cultural points of interest.

The easiest way to reach Mt. Oyama is by taking the Odakyu train line to Isehara station, taking just under an hour from Shinjuku. Then you can take a frequent bus for a 25 minute ride to the trailhead at Oyama Cable Car bus stop. From there, you make your way through the historical Koma Sando, a narrow mountain walkway selling traditional wooden toys, fresh vegetables, tofu dishes, dango snacks and more.

Afuri Shrine – photo by Andrew Rouse

If you are feeling lazy, you can take the recently redesigned cable car to whisk you up to the colorful Afuri Shrine around halfway up the mountain. From there you can see a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains, cities and Shonan beach in the distance.

Under the shrine you can find a dark walkway leading to an underground natural spring where you can refill your water bottle from the mouth of a dragon sculpture, and next you’ll see Shinto and Buddhist statues lit by candlelight.

Oyama Temple – photo of author

It takes another hour and a half to reach the summit at 1,252m, but on the way you can enjoy views of small waterfalls and Mt. Fuji on a clear day. There are various routes up the mountain, but for beginners I recommend the main route mentioned above. There are more intermediate level hikes on the east and west sides for those who want a challenge. Also check out the Buddhist Oyama Temple a short walk below the Afuri Shrine, where you can walk down a long stairway surrounded by awe-inspiring guardian statues.

Autumn is probably the best time to visit Mt. Oyama, and you can enjoy the splendid colors of the autumn foliage. Summertime is often just too hot to climb the mountain comfortably. Humid temperatures bring out pesky mountain leeches, so if visiting at that time you’ll want to bring a bag of salt or deterrent spray (another reason to schedule your trip for the cooler months). Also, be sure to bring ample water, a hat, proper footwear, a map and an emergency light if hiking in the late afternoon.

Consider Mt. Oyama as an introduction to the wonders of the beautiful Japanese mountains and countryside. Beyond Mt. Oyama, after getting your legs up to speed, you can enjoy even greater sights in the higher mountains such as the Japan Alps of Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures.

Photo Credits:

Top Photo: “Mt. Ōyama seen from Mt. Sannotō, Kanagawa, Japan” by Σ64, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. (cc-by-SA-3.0). No changes or alterations were made.  Wikimedia Commons Link

Additional photos provided by Andrew Rouse and used with permission

All other content (text) created by the original author and © 2020 MUSUBI by Borderlink

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Andrew Rouse

Andrew Rouse, an American having lived in Japan for over twenty years, organizes weekend hikes in the Kanto area with an international group of avid hiking and nature lovers

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