Koboyama Park in Isehara

Hot spot for hiking. Looks famous, despite the cold weather, we could find many people walking around. We reach the place by noon. Everybody kind of stopped there to picnic.
There is a long course going from Isehara downtown to the top of Oyama. We just sopped by the closest parking and find our way there by luck. This spot as this "Lookout Platform" which gives a pretty wide view. In clear weather you can see the Fuji. Today was cloudy.

Can you see the Fujisan



a peace monument


the hiking recommended course

I let you read

Oyama

Oyama is a mount located in Isehara city, in the Tanzawa Natsional Park. I went there myself few years ago for a little walk through the hiking course. There is few events there and the main one is the Tofu festival held in end of February, around the last week end. Next matsuri will be soon, end of August. (28th~29th). It is a mikoshi (people carrying a shrine on their shoulders)

Oyama has 3 levels. Lower level with all the restaurants and shops. You can have a tofu based lunch or diner after your hicking. They close early on the Low season. 4~5pm if I remember well.

You have also a cable-car station. It will bring you to the second level where you can find a temple, the Ōyama-dera. The cable-car has a sub-station in the middle but you only have access to some hicking tracks. Nothing else.

To reach the Top Level, you will have to walk. It is not that hard. I did it with a 1yo baby on my back. Dirt and big stones so do not come with high hills like the basic japanese dating girl. From the top, you will have a clear view through the shonan area to Yokohama. You can see the Fuji from the other side. The shrine on the top end, Ōyama-Afuri Jinja, has nothing impressive, even disapointing. Do not come for this. Come to enjoy the walk and the nature.

Take the Oyama Cable Station-bound bus from the North Exit of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line and get off at the last stop (30 minutes)
If you come by car, you will find some "private owned" parkings for 1000~1500¥/1day. (I went in December). Forget the baby car, stairs start from the first shops.

Wikipedia (eng)
Tourist Info

Oyama, Tanzawa

Komachi Jinja

Derriere le bento shop ou j'ai mes habitudes, un petit temple perdu au milieu des arbres a attire mon attention. Apres investigation, il s'est avere etre un temple dedie a une personnalite de la litterature Japonaise. La poetesse Ono no Komachi. Le temple du meme nom, Komachi Temple, est quant a lui surement moins connu. L'arrondissement porte aussi le nom de Ono.

The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Ono No Komachi

En rejoingnant le parking, on passe devant une source d'eau qui est une des "7 merveilles de Komachi"... Rien d'exceptionnel, je vous rassure. Ca fraule meme le ridicule mais je n'irai pas le dire, de peur que les kamis se fachent.

Le parking juxtapose une petite aire de jeux avec toboggan, balancoire et bac a sable. J'ai bien dit petite. Plus haut, un terrain de criquet pour les retraites du coin. Encore plus haut, un terrain de football. Grillagé, il doit etre reserve a un club mais franchement il n'y a pas d'etablissement scolaire assez proche pour justifier telle installation. Mystere!

Voila qu'on marche depuis un petit moment. La pente est raide mais pas longue. On arrive deja au sommet, croisant une piste de randonnee et ses randonneurs. Un autel dedie a je ne sais qui (ou quoi). La descente se fait gentiment, derriere le centre technique Fujita et puis a travers un verger.

On arrive ainsi a l'entree du temple avec le meme denivele a remonter. Les dires nous rappelent que le meilleur moment est le printemps. La route est en effet pleine de cerisiers.

En somme une belle ballade d'une heure a peine.

Komachi Jinja