Volcanic Landscapes and Wild Hot Springs in Yatsugatake - Let's Trek Japan

Wow, oh, it's an amazing view though Japan a place where 70% of the land is mountainous Hiking is actually very popular here from beginners to experts Men and women of all ages are able to appreciate the wide variety of nature that mountains offer Wow amazing view Today we'll be introducing Yatsugatake a mountain range of over 30 mountains It's like a fairytale We'll take you on a refreshing walk along the stream which brings you to a dynamic view This route is especially recommended for beginners Konnichiwa You'll be greeted at many unique mountain lodges with a warm welcome And a hot spring surrounded by an incredible view Let's go on a journey to discover a side of Japan. You've probably never seen Hi, I'm Pauline Kitamura, and I've been living in Japan for 20 years and Fell totally in love with the mountains here and work as a hiking guide in Japan I'm here today to tell you a little bit about the Japanese mountains and to give you some advice on hiking in Japan today's hiker is I'm Hannah, and it's been about three years since I started hiking in Japan And I absolutely fell in love with the mountains here. There's still so much more to learn though So I'm really excited to find out together, so let's enjoy this beautiful day and enjoy the mountains together Hannah is from Australia and lives in Japan now. She often posts pictures and videos of what she loves about Japan She's been posting about trekking and it's one of her most popular subjects This time we'll be hiking a mountain recommended by Pauline So I'd like to introduce you to one of my most favorite mountain ranges the Yasugasaki Mountain One of the reasons why this mountain is so popular is because it has so many Different hiking routes all over the place and there's also a lot of mountain lodges that you can stay at along the way so I would highly recommend today's route for beginners because For a relatively easy hike you'll be able to enjoy some fantastic fantastic views Okay guys, so let's go trekking Yasugasaki is a huge mountain range that reaches across the border of Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures The mountain range consists of over 30 mountains whose elevation reaches over 2,000 meters The entire mountain range is referred to as Yasugasaki There are many trailheads but for today we'll begin at Sakura Daira trailhead Located in the middle of Yasugatake From Shinjuku station in Tokyo We'll take a two-hour run on the Azusa limited express train to Chino station in Nagano Prefecture From there, we'll take a taxi for one hour and head to the Sakura Daira trailhead Driving here yourself is also a good idea. It takes three hours from Haneda Airport and Parking is free Today's route will be a three-day two-night trip on the first day We'll take a refreshing route along the stream and head for a mountain lodge called Oren Goya at 2,330 meters the cumulative elevation gain is 512 meters Okay, so we have just arrived at the trailhead called Sakura Daira it is my first time hiking Yasugatake So I'm really really excited to see what it's about Let's go Sakura Daira's elevation is 1,900 meters The route through the forest is protected from the wind and it is an easy hike And we've already come across one of my favorite parts of hiking is the running water river It's fresh clean and it feels so nice You'll find an abundant water source at Yasugatake So beautiful the route continues along a river with dynamic views It's actually quite steep at the beginning Gets your heart rate up. As she climbs the steep hill she comes across a pleasant surprise There's a deer over there. Oh, it's so beautiful Wow Just grazing on the grass having a little snack. I always get so excited when I see deer in the wild because we don't have them in Australia, so Many Japanese deer live in the forests near the foot of Yasugatake It's not so rare to spot one during your hike here. I think I've only seen deer while hiking in Japan maybe two or three times So it's not as common as you'd think but it's always a welcome surprise After 30 minutes of hiking we'll pass a mountain lodge called Natsuzawa Kousen From here on the mountain trail becomes steeper Generally the foot of the mountains is covered by forests. So it's rather calm, but you should never underestimate the mountains The weather and landscape of Japanese mountains can vary greatly. So it's important to be prepared and have the right gear with you Let's ask our Japanese mountain expert Pauline about hiking gear. What hiking gear is especially important to bring with you? A rain jacket is very important because in Japan up in the mountains the weather can vary change very very quickly It can start to suddenly rain and it can get very cold as well Having a good pair of hiking shoes is very important. You should have your footwear should have thick soles To provide enough protection from sharp rocks underneath your foot Have a great hike Hana An hour has passed since Hana started hiking now she encounters some beautiful scenery This is so pretty It's like a fairytale. I love it Wow There's moss absolutely everywhere it's like covering the rocks there's even like underwater moss So beautiful that water is cold Moss grows well in humid environments The foot of Yatsugatake is full of water and is a sanctuary for moss to grow Really really reminds me of like a Traditional Japanese garden everything's covered in moss it it looks like everything's been meticulously placed here, but it's all natural Every time I see it. I'm always reminded of like the Ghibli films like the famous anime films made in Japan They always look like this Quite a spiritual kind of feeling very calming Wonder if I can get a good picture of him Like from above it just looks normal, but as soon as you get down to its level. It's like a whole nother world in here So cute it looks like the king of this world Though they may all look the same there are 1,800 varieties of moss in Japan 500 types of moss have been found in Yatsugatake alone Yatsugatake has coniferous trees called Shirabiso which do not shed their leaves Since the moss doesn't get covered by leaves. It's easier to carry on photosynthesis Why not pause a moment to take in this mystical mossy scenery? Just before arriving at the mountain lodge she meets some fellow hikers Those those two women are carrying huge bags, well wonder if we can go talk to them These ladies are resident part-time workers at the mountain lodge They deliver things like food supplies for meals These bags look really heavy, but how heavy are they actually? Hanna will try to carry it on her back That's quite heavy Surprise oh, yeah, it's really Feels like I'm gonna fall over constantly This is the first time I've seen women carrying all of the supplies up the mountain yeah very surprising Too late isn't it? In Japan you'll often find mountain lodges close to trailheads or peaks Since the lodges cannot be reached by car Necessities are delivered by helicopter and by Boka an on-foot delivery service Boka means walk and luggage Sometimes they carry 100 kilograms for over 10 kilometers People who work at the lodge also have the job of maintaining the trails They end up taking money must get all the more died. I just don't get there. No, they don't understand. I mean, I think I'm then you know, what are you on? Hi, I'm not a bit committed. Oh, don't know if you come back to mass One of the bridges that we crossed is maintained by Mountain Lodge So we should be thankful that they're maintaining these trails and building all these bridges so that we can enjoy these hikes up in the mountains Hanna has been walking for an hour and a half from sakura daida. Whoo Looks like we've just arrived at today's accommodation Today's destination is or in Goya at an elevation of two thousand three hundred thirty meters This cozy Mountain Lodge was built in 1950 Let's first check in at the front desk Konnichiwa nice to see you again Many lodges nowadays take reservations in English. So make sure to contact them beforehand Even if you don't stay overnight, you might like to stop by to buy souvenirs and have a meal Now time for my favorite part of checking in I get to take off my shoes. Hmm Japanese people take off their shoes at the entrance and that is not an exception at this Mountain Lodge And then they prepare all of the slippers here for you so you can wear them and then you don't get your socks dirty This is such a it's a real Japanese Kind of thing that you'll probably only find it a hot in Japan This room has a classic wooden interior right by the door. There is a wood-burning stove This room also acts as a drying room Where you can hang wet clothes and gear and is also where people gather around a stove to relax The guest rooms are on the second floor Number five, this should be my room. Oh, wow Adora in Goya private rooms are available on a first-come first-served basis I think this is my first time having a private room at a mountain hut It's quite Minimal there's not a lot in here, but they've got the beds here These are Japanese futon beds so you can just easily spread them out and have a really really comfortable sleep here They've even got outlets here so that you can charge all of your devices. It's very rare for a mountain hut We have a bit of time before dinner. Let's explore what's outside Outside the lodge right before our eyes is a Refreshing stream the stream we have walked along by the trail actually starts here Or in Goya actually gets its electricity solely from hydroelectric power Thanks to this abundant source of water Also, you can even soak in a warm bath here which is very rare at a mountain lodge And it says here that you can drink it and you can wash your hands, so let's try some I guess See, oh Yeah, that's really nice. Oh so fresh So it's always Really really nice to come and enjoy some fresh water spring water Onsen water Japan has all these different kinds of water and I love all of them And now it is dinner time this looks so good my goodness This is a typical Teishoku style set meal with rice and side dishes It has a salad with some pickles tempura made from seasonal vegetables brought by Bukka and Oden Goya specialty sukiyaki Vegetarian or allergy-free meals are available upon request in advance Itadakimasu I'm so excited Everything tastes so amazing when you've been hiking all day. I would recommend that you reach the mountain hut After a hike by at least three o'clock if not earlier This is so that you can reach your destination while it's still light out The weather tends to change suddenly in the afternoon So it's better to leave early this will give you more leeway in case you get lost or feel sick Mountain lodges are also on a schedule their dinner is usually served at 5 or 6 p.m. Lights go out at 8 or 9 p.m. Breakfast the next morning is usually at 5 or 6 a.m. It's best to align with their schedule In the evening guests can relax by the stove and enjoy a little chat The mountain lodge owner welcomed us with locally made sake and wine He is the fourth generation owner the lodge passed down from his grandfather to his father and his uncle Do you ever just for fun hike to the top just to see the view I As a Visitor to a mountain hut you just stay in here you eat the food and and that's it and it's nice but you don't realize how many other things factor into Making this all run how to get the heating to work and hot water and and getting the meals out on time get the food here, there's so many things and then also Taking care of the the trails for the people to walk on There's so many things that you're all working really hard on in such a unique environment Yeah, but I'm now starting to really understand and really appreciate all of the hard work that Your staff is putting in. Yeah, so thank you so much For all of your hard work and for keeping this place beautiful for all of us to enjoy Thanks to the staff at mountain lodges we can enjoy the amazing Japanese mountains even more The next morning the staff sends off the hikers with a smile On the second day Hana will depart or in Goya and head to the 2760 meter peak Mount Yodake from there She will set down her things at the next lodge Yodake Sanso and head towards Mount Yokota To enjoy the magnificent view from the second highest peak in the Yotsugatake region Hana leaves at 630 in the morning and continues along the path through the forest It's always so beautiful here in the morning because the light will shine through what this Sideways angle and it just lights up the place. It looks like a fairy tale After 20 minutes of walking from Oden Goya the view suddenly opens up Wow, oh my goodness It's so beautiful So we have just arrived at Natsuzawa Pass. That's such a crazy-looking cliff Mount Yodake's volcanic crater is 300 meters high It was created 50,000 years ago by a massive volcanic eruption Yotsugatake is a volcano that has violently erupted repeatedly over the years and There's this crater. It's such a Rugged landscape. It's a really intense cliff. It's really really steep Really really interesting landscape Did you know that many mountains in Japan are volcanoes Including the famous Mount Fuji Yotsugatake has a longer history Mount Fuji. It's been continuously erupting for 1.3 million years One blessing from this activity is the bountiful supply of spring water at Yotsugatake After the magma broke through the earth's surface and cooled the lava rocks formed many cracks and holes Creating space for water to be absorbed and become spring water At Yotsugatake a rich supply of spring water is available even at high altitudes Which is why you can see many streams flowing down the mountain This Bountiful supply of spring water is actually a gift from an old volcano Hana has now trekked over Natsuzawa Pass The scenery changes yet again This is the tree line at Yotsugatake at an elevation of about 2,500 meters Large trees cannot grow in these harsh conditions The trees stopped just down there and now we've got Big wide views as far as you can see. It's really really amazing and over there You can see that's Oren Goya the hut that we were just at and there's a little Natsuzawa Pass that we passed as well It's amazing, I really love being able to look back and see just how far you've hiked it's really cool It's just all rocks From here we go up a steep rocky path If you kick a rock you could cause a rock slide you have to hike carefully one step at a time It's getting tricky As we reach higher altitudes there will be larger rocks Before you know it the volcanic crater you saw earlier will be right next to you. I Always wonder about these big piles of rocks Who put them here These are called cairns and these are trail markers basically that help you figure out which way to go and Often you'll find these at intersections, so please make sure that you don't knock them over or Kick down the rocks and make sure that they're intact Good job, Hana. You're almost there We're almost at the top almost It's been surprisingly very steep the whole way up Is that it? Is that the peak? It's very exciting That's it I can see it Haha, I did it Wow that was actually quite a steep climb to get up here But it's always worth it at the top View looks amazing Wow So great that you can get like a full almost 360 view of all of the mountains around here at 2,760 meters the view at the top of Mount Iyodake is breathtaking Whole time you're climbing you have no idea what's on the other side because you can just see this peak only but all of these Mountains are incredible Standing tall in front of us is Mount Akadake the highest mountain in the Yatsugatake region To the left you can see Mount Yokodake where we will head to next And this is the volcanic crater We just passed the exposed rock wall lets you imagine the massive power of the volcanic eruption The Yatsugatake region is beloved by many hikers This mother and son climbed Yatsugatake when the boy was just four years old and now they're back after 15 years How was the mountain? It was harder than I thought But it was a view that you don't get to experience in everyday life I'm glad I climbed it The weather is so interesting It's funny that it's raining A solo hiker's 7th time hiking Yatsugatake It's my birthday today My 65th birthday Thank you so much It's great to be able to celebrate my birthday in the mountains The mountains are like a middle schooler's paradise You can enjoy the mountains no matter how old you are Have fun any way you like Hana has now started to climb over to the other side of Mount Iyodake After about 20 minutes she has arrived at tonight's mountain lodge Iyodake Sansou This mountain lodge quietly stands on a ridge at an elevation of 2,650 meters This classic mountain lodge was built in 1950 Let's take a look at tonight's room What? This is amazing This is such a luxurious mountain hut room And the view is amazing Let's explore the other areas This newly renovated room is like a giant dorm room There are other kinds of rooms too Wow, goodness This is beautiful This just feels like a normal hotel room It's so like modern and clean There's even a flush toilet with a bidet and hot showers All thanks to the bountiful water sources of Yatsugatake It's hard to believe all of this is available at a mountain lodge high up on a ridge In winter, Yatsugatake will be covered in snow But the snowfall is not so heavy And many days are sunny Real mountain climbing in snowy mountains Ice climbing for experts Beginners can enjoy snow trekking and skiing Why not try and see what the winter mountains can offer Next, let's head out to Mount Yokodake Hikers in Japan like to climb to this peak Leave any heavy items at the mountain lodge And carry only what you need for a short hike Give it a try Mount Yokodake's peak is about one hour from Iyodake Sanso Oh, look Look at these cute little pink flowers here And like clearly there's not a lot of fertile soil here to grow anything Yet all of these flowers and plants just find a way to grow even amongst the rocks Between Iyodake Sanso and Yokodake From July to August, you can find the queen of alpine plants Clusters of komakusa The owners of Iyodake Sanso have been protecting these precious plants for generations Protecting the alpine plants Is like a destiny inherited from my grandparents and my father Every summer, he puts up a net spanning about 1,000 meters This is to prevent people from stepping on the flowers And kamoshika seros from eating them all We don't grow them by planting seeds But it feels like we're growing them Even though we're just protecting them with this net It feels very precious At one time, komakusa almost became extinct As they were excessively picked for their medicinal herbal qualities Takayuki remembers how his grandmother used to caution hikers to be careful My grandmother used to caution hikers to be careful She was very strict When I was a child, I was shocked to see my grandmother being so strict But I understand how she felt I think she felt like she was being raised As the komakusa began to grow back Takayuki's father rebuilt the shrine near the lodge And named it Komakusa Shrine All the komakusa at that time were small and cute Compared to the other shrines I think the pink ones are thinner and whiter I think they're more modest I think they're cute The scenery looks like this today Thanks to the people who love the mountains In the mountains, the weather can change rapidly Especially in the afternoon A cloud is looming right in front of us That's amazing That's such a beautiful view Even though there's so many clouds just gathered right here The fact that the mountain is just kind of peering through them It's so beautiful It's always interesting that the clouds tend to hit the side of the mountain And just roll up and stop there So you get beautiful views on one side but not much on the other The rugged landscape is created by the volcano The path becomes narrower from here The chains This is just sitting there But the chains will be running all the way along the ridgeline All the way to the top So use the chains for support And just in case you're feeling unsteady Always good to have a hand on a chain But yeah, I'm excited but a little bit nervous Okay, let's go Goodness It's a steep and narrow slope Best to hold on to the chain Rather than using a pole Be careful placing every step Wow If you come across another hiker on a narrow path Greet them and make way for each other Thank you You're almost at the top Hang in there, Hana Guys, I've reached the top already To the peak of Yokodake Wow Mount Yokodake Is the second highest mountain in Yatsugatake With an elevation of 2,830 meters You can see the highest mountain close by Mount Akadake Which is 2,899 meters Climbing up to there would be too far So we'll save it for another day We walked along a nearby ridge to enjoy the view And decided to turn back to the lodge If you're lucky You may be able to see Mount Fuji Beyond Mount Akadake The famous Mount Fuji Is the tallest mountain in Japan With an elevation of 3,776 meters Some say that Yatsugatake At 2,899 meters May once have been taller than Mount Fuji Evidence can be found in Yamanashi Prefecture Forty kilometers away from Yatsugatake This is called Shichiri-wa This is where the Yatsugatake used to be It collapsed and was flowing for a long time It's a relic The biggest flow was Around 50 kilometers Even in Japan The biggest three-dimensional collapse Experts say that Mount Akadake And Mount Amida Together once formed a cone-shaped mountain Like Mount Fuji Local people have passed down this interesting legend Long ago Mount Fuji and Yatsugatake Had been fighting for years Over who was the tallest in Japan I must be the tallest No, I am the one who is taller Watching their squabble Buddha Amitabha Thought to bring a long water pipe And pour water into it To see which way the water would flow And as Amitabha poured water into it A loud sound was made As it gushed towards Mount Fuji Mount Fuji, who didn't like to lose Became furious And kicked Yatsugatake With all its might Then came a rumble so loud As if heaven and earth Were about to shatter That's when Yatsugatake Split into eight mountains And became shorter than Mount Fuji That's how the locals See the mysterious connections Between Mount Fuji and Yatsugatake Many hikers Head out in the morning While it's still a little dark out The rising sun Is considered to be A representation of a god For the Japanese people And something to be grateful for Many hikers Rise early to see the sunrise It's beautiful When the sun is coming up From this angle After waiting for half an hour The sun starts to break Over the horizon It's beautiful I can really like Once you take into consideration That the sun is kind of the The energy of life, right? It's the source of all life on earth And it's I can start to really understand Why in Japan Watching the sunrise Is quite a Spiritual experience It's really, really amazing Especially watching it From somewhere like this Our journey continues Lastly A unique experience Awaits us At the volcanoes Okay So we just had A delicious breakfast And checked out of the hut And now we're gonna be Heading down the mountain And actually stopping At an onsen on the way And I absolutely love onsen So I'm really, really Excited to check it out We'll head to An outdoor natural Hot spring That is located About two hours From Iyodake Sansou That's our final Destination for this trip When we arrive At Natsuzawa Pass We'll hike down A different path Than the way we came I think I can smell The onsen Like that kind of Sulfur kind of smell And I can hear The sound of a stream Coming so Must be getting close Very excited Oh You can see the onsen From here It's so crazy There's like No walls around it At all It's just Out in the wild In nature Just surrounded By all these trees And a river Wow Quite adventurous To get there Oh my goodness We're getting really close This is all Quite dangerous Actually Very adventurous Wow Oh my gosh Wow The view is So Wide here You can see Everything From the top Down to the river All of this For an onsen Who built it? I have so many questions I made it Amazing Honzawa Onsen Is famous for being The highest Open air onsen In Japan Located At an elevation Of 2150 meters It's so amazing It's so Rare that you get The opportunity To hike down A volcano crater Down to this point Get into an onsen And then look back At where you've Just hiked from It's So incredible That this was built Out here In the wild Just surrounded By nature The steep crater walls Of Mt. Iyodake The deep valleys Carved out By its eruption Flowing streams That come from The natural spring water Seeping out of the earth And of course The hot spring onsens These are all Landscapes That were created By the volcanic activity Springing from Deep Within the earth There's nothing better Than soaking in a hot tub After a long hike This is Perfect Exactly what I wanted There is no Changing room In the area Swimsuits Are allowed So Why not give it a try The onsen Is operated By a mountain lodge That is about 10 minutes away So don't forget To pay the 1000 yen fee Before you leave So Every time I go hiking Somewhere in Japan I'm always amazed At the amount of Power That you can really Feel from nature And Yatsugatake Is no different The fact that It's a volcano Means that we get To enjoy All of the wonderful Things that come from it Like drinkable spring water And wonderful Natural onsens Are here In the middle of nature It's so So incredible To experience in person So I can highly recommend Coming to check out Yatsugatake Even for beginners I think it's a really Great hiking course And all of the little Huts along the way And the wonderful People that run them It's really such an Accessible Wonderful adventure And I already Can't wait to come back This time We hiked in The Yatsugatake region The total distance Was 10.8 kilometers The hike Took 7 hours The cumulative Elevation gain Was 1391 meters When going into The mountains Be prepared And plan your trip In advance You should submit A hiking itinerary Beforehand Fill out your Destination Fellow hiker Information And emergency contacts This will help In finding you In case you get lost For this route You can hand it in At Natsuzawa Kousen You can also Submit the form online Once you're ready It's time to head out And experience The fantastic Mountains Of Japan