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Sightseeing in Mitake and Hinode

Musashi-Mitake Shrine

Musashi-Mitake Shrine sits at an altitude of 929 meters (3,084 feet) at the peak of Mt. Mitake. This shrine has a long history and is said to have been first built in 91 BC. Later, following the ceremonial transfer of Zao Gongen (one of the principal deities of the Shugendo religion) by Gyoki (who built the Todaiji Temple in the Nara period), the shrine developed as a sacred ground for the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. The wolf or mountain dog that served as a divine guide to Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (the 12th Emperor of Japan), is worshipped at this shrine as a guardian spirit. Thus, many worshipers bring their dogs along when they visit this shrine. In addition, because this place is also known for being a spiritual site, many come to stay at the shukubo (shrine lodge) or to meditate beneath the Ayahiro Falls. Within the shrine precincts, there is a sacred tree near Ubuyasusha. If you touch the tree, you will receive blessings such as longevity, a good marriage partner, or a healthy baby.

Musashi-Mitake Shrine

Mt. Mitake

Mt. Mitake is very popular amongst first-time and experienced climbers all year round. Around Nanayo Falls, where there are eight 50-meter tall (164-foot tall) waterfalls of varying sizes, you can see toad lilies (Tricyrtis latifolia) and Conandron ramondioides. The area spanning roughly 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from Nanayo Falls to Ayahiro Falls is called the Rock Garden and is full of large rocks and mountain streams running between the rocks. If you head toward Okunoin from the Nagao Plain, you will see a giant tree, known as Tengu no Koshikake Sugi (the cedar where the tengu, a Shinto god, sits). Estimated to be 350 years old, this tree has a height of 60 meters (197 feet), and a trunk circumference of 6.5 meters (21 feet). The tree has a mysterious shape because one of its branches grows outward horizontally before continuing upwards. There are many things to see along this trail, making it an interesting place to visit throughout all four seasons.

Mt. Mitake

Mt. Hinode

Mt. Hinode has an altitude of 902 meters (2,960 feet), and is located at the boundary of Hinode Town and Ome City in Tokyo. "Hinode" means "sunrise". It is said that the mountain was so named because the sun rises from the direction in which this mountain is located when seen from Mt. Mitake. Mt. Hinode is directly to the east of Mt. Mitake and has a slightly lower elevation. The trail starting from Mt. Mitake is popular and crowded, but the other trail is quieter. The view from the mountaintop is fantastic, making it a popular spot for hikers from the Tokyo metropolitan area. Tsuru-tsuru Onsen, a hot spring located in the east foothills, is well known for having properties beneficial to the skin.
(C)Hinode Town

Mt. Hinode

Mitake Valley

Mitake Valley is known as a beautiful scenic spot and is designated one of Japan's top 100 waters by the Ministry of the Environment. Many youths from all over Japan gather here to enjoy water sports such as canoeing. Promenades continue for about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) along both riverbanks and attract visitors that come for forest bathing or to enjoy the splendid views of verdant green leaves, bright autumn leaves and other sights that the valley offers throughout the seasons. In addition, you can find the Gyokudo Art Museum, the Kushi Kanzashi Museum in Sawanoi, and the Mitake Museum along this path. There is a three-minute walk from the JR Ome Line Mitake Station to Mitake Valley.

Mitake Valley

The Japanese Plum, an Agricultural and Tourism Resource

The Japanese plum was once a very important agricultural and tourism resource in Ome City, whose name includes the kanji for ume, meaning Japanese plum. However, when the first infection by the plum pox virus was discovered here in 2009, more than 36,000 plum trees throughout the city were cut down. After that, as a result of efforts that have been conducted since FY 2015 to strengthen protection against the plum pox virus, and in October 2016, the replanting of Japanese plum trees was approved in some areas in the city. Since then, plum trees have been replanted based on Ome City's Ume-no-Sato Revitalization Plan in a continuing effort to bring back the Japanese plum.

Masterpieces of Japanese plums

Sawanoi - A High-Quality Sake Nurtured by Clear Streams

Sawanoi is a famous Japanese sake brand that boasts 300 years of history. Sawanoi, which literally means "the stream's well" was so named for the water so abundant that it became a stream. Located somewhere along Mitake Valley in Ome City, which is famous in Japan for its water, is the Ozawa Shuzo, the origin of Sawanoi sake. The Ozawa Shuzo is a traditional brewery with a history of over three hundred years since its foundation in 1702. Take a tour or participate in a sake-tasting session at this traditional, white-walled brewery or shop, take a stroll, or sample the food at the Sawanoi Garden along one of the banks of the Tama River.

Sawanoi - High-quality Sake Nurtured by the Clear Stream

Fujimiken - A Restaurant on the Mountain

Fujimiken is at the entrance to Mt. Mitake, just in front of the cable car station at Mt. Mitake. In front of the restaurant, there is a square and an observation deck from which visitors can see Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Mt. Tsukuba and the rest of the Kanto Plain when the weather is clear. The restaurant offers udon and soba noodles with sansai (mountain vegetables) harvested from local mountains, ramen with homegrown mushrooms and sansai kenchin udon (miso udon with vegetables and tofu), and soba lunches. A reservation is required to use the second floor, which is a traditional tatami room that can seat up to 16 people. It is a great place for a large group to have lunch while enjoying the fantastic scenery. You can also purchase souvenirs of Mt. Mitake at the restaurant.

Sansai soba at Fujimiken

Sanraku Chaya Korisan - A Café in a Traditional Building from the Taisho Period Along the Pilgrim Road to Mt. Mitake

Korisan, a café owned by the shukubo (shrine lodge) Sanraku-so, was once frequented by the novelist Eiji Yoshikawa and the Japanese painter Gyokudo Kawai. Beginning with the café's original Korisan coffee, this café offers a variety of choices including tanuki soba (soba with tempura crumbs). Mizuame (water candy) is a popular item amongst both children and adults. The organic vegetables are carefully cultivated by the owner of the Sanraku-so shukubo and are sold in limited quantities. Sanraku-so prides itself on its herbal cuisine that uses local mountain vegetables and organic vegetables cultivated in the owner's garden.

Saraku-so's herbal cuisine

Hiking

The secret to Mt. Mitake's popularity is its the wealth of interesting places, such as Musashi-Mitake Shrine at the mountaintop, the Rock Garden with its boulders and clear streams, and Tsuru-tsuru Onsen, a hot spring that you can visit after your hike. There are also plenty of activities you can enjoy. You can observe Japanese flying squirrels, participate in bird watching sessions organized by the Mitake Regional Exchange Center, go to the Mitake Valley Autumn Colors Festival, or take part in the nature observation meetings held along the promenades in Mitake Valley. Three museums can also be found along a trail by the clear stream of Mitake Valley, allowing visitors to enjoy a combination of nature, culture, and history. Many people visit here throughout the four seasons.

Hiking

Mt. Mitake Trail Run

Trail running is a kind of middle or long distance run on unpaved tracks in the mountains. The holes or bumps in the ground, as well as tree roots, provide runners with a unique experience. The Mt. Mitake Trail Run is a race held in December, on the trails of the spiritual Mt. Mitake. The race starts at Takimoto Station for the Mt. Mitake cable car, goes through a trail on Mt. Ostuka, passes through the shukubo town, the Rock garden, Mt. Nabewari (1,084 meters (3,556 feet)), and Okunoin (1,077 meters (3,533 feet)), and ends at the Musashi Mitake Shrine.

Rock Garden

River Activities

Mitake Valley has the nearest rafting center to Tokyo. In addition to rafting, you can experience a variety of river activities, including canoeing, kayaking, bouldering, surfing, and diving from natural rocks. The water volume in the river is stable regardless of the season, thus making it the perfect location for people to try rafting for the first time. You can experience the thrill and excitement of breaking through the rapid current while making a splash, or the exhilaration of descending through the wilderness. The changing seasons also bring with them changes in the scenery, allowing visitors to truly experience and enjoy nature.

Rafting

Tsuru-tsuru Onsen

Tsuru-tsuru Onsen is a natural hot spring established in 1996 at the foot of Mt. Hinode in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. The water at this simple hot spring is slightly alkaline, has a smooth texture, and is known for having properties that make skin feel soft and smooth. There is also a camping site nearby. Why not visit this hot spring and refresh yourself after a day spent camping or hiking in nature? The restaurant at this spring offers panoramic views and a variety of dishes including Akigawa beef grilled in magnolia leaves and served with rice and side dishes, Masakado hot pot with Ome pork, and red udon made from Hinode Town tomatoes. Tsuru-tsuru Onsen is 20-minutes by bus from JR Musashi-Itsukaichi Station.
(C)Hinode Town

Tsuru-tsuru Onsen

Mitake Visitor Center

The Mitake Visitor Center is located on Mt. Mitake, which is located at the easternmost side of Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, and provides visitors with information and guidance about mountain climbing, hiking, nature, history, culture, and general tourism around Mt. Mitake. Information about animals, plants, geography, topography, and humanities in the natural park is provided in an easy-to-understand manner. Guided walks, nature classes, and craft classes that use natural materials are also organized by the center. Take the JR Ome Line to Mitake Station, and then take the Nishi-Tokyo Bus bound for Cable-shita. Get off the bus at the Cable-shita Bus Stop, and then take the Mitake Tozan Railway cable car to Mitakesan Station. The visitor center is about a 10-minute walk from Mitakesan Station.

Mitake Visitor Center

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