御嶽山 Mt. Ontake hiking course

Rigorous hike with great views

The hiking course is part of the Kanto Fureai no Michi, the nature trail system throughout the prefectures of the Kanto region. The name of this trail on Mt. Ontake is a mouthful - 御嶽山から坂東24番札所へのみち - describing 24 pilgrimage stations along 8.2 kilometers of trails. The trail starts at Iwase Station on the Mito Line and ends at Amabiki Kannon, a temple on the west flank of the Tsukuba mountains. I've hiked it twice, once solo, a second time with a friend. The views from various lookouts are stunning and along the way, there are pilgrimage spots and a landscape that is wild in some parts and semi-cultivated satoyama. We met a bee colony, spied butterflies, and were welcomed by the peacocks that live at Amabiki Kannon. You can return to Iwase Station on the trail, another 3 hour walk, or take the bus from Amabiki Kannon on weekends and holidays back to Iwase Station.