Monthly regular tour 21st April, 2019

We had 12 guests today, who were divided into 2 groups, namely a group going up by the cable car and one climbing up on foot. This blog covers the cable car group, consisting of 5 guests, 2 TENGU guides and a tour observer, who is interested in joining TENGU.

All the 5 guests are young and happy ladies and gentlemen from Iceland (an Austrian by nationality), Germany, India, Hong Kong and U.S.A. 

The weather was perfect and we started the tour in high spirits!

It happened to be a Spring Festival Day of Yakuoin-Temple, one of the destinations of our tour.

Praying for sound and healthy growth of their children, parents were taking them to the temple, who are dressed in a special dress for the day.

Many ceremonies and events were held at the mountain and the temple. Performance of traditional Japanese drums and Lion Dance attracted many visitors.

Unfortunately, we could not see Mt.Fuji due to cloud.

We took photos at the summit to prove our great achievement.

After lunch, we took No.4 Trail, crossing the famous suspension bridge and climbed down via No.1 Trail to the cable car station at the foot of the mountain, where we happened to meet the other group.

We took photos of both groups together and ended the tour there in a happy and festive mood.

(By Nori)

The Private Tour 2019-4-14

Leader  Ryo  Supporter  Nobby

9:30  station - cable car - trail no.1  11:05 summit - 12:15  Icchodaira - lunch 12:40  start - 13:50  Fuji trail - 15:10  lift - 15:30  599 MuseumGuests   Annaline and George , an American couple from New Jersey , USA“We want to see the cherry blossoms at Icchodaira” was their wishes. Reading their mail, you can tell that they are the seasoned travelers. 

1.      Great English Practice  

We talked all the way as pairs for five and half hours. Our members! Never miss a good opportunity, three or four of us can take part in this kind of tours, and plenty of chances to talk.

2.      Unexpected things can happen ( 3. Too )

Weather forecast last night and this morning was “ cloudy and  would start raining sometime in the afternoon.” I even warned

them to prepare for the rain.

This in mind, we started out this morning, but what a wonderful sunshine we had during the lunch time, warm and bright , perfect OHANAMI with full cherry blossoms( hill cherry) against the blue sky. Especially at Icchodaira, we found ourselves an open space on a little hill below the SHIROYAMA look out , although the tables were all occupied, it was the best place to enjoy our lunch. They praised the Japanese convenience stores, because they carry all kinds of Obento to choose from, a joy! joy!

3.  The blind leads the blind

From the Takao summit, we went to Icchodaira.  Along the way, we didn’t take the main trail to avoid the wooden stairs. Instead we decided to take the narrow nature trial, but I made a mistake of following the two men going down in front of us and missed it to turn to the right to Ichodaira. Nobby noticed the wrong trail, thank God, we went back up. Climbing up the same road was the greatest trial of this trip. What an experienced guide I am! We could laugh later, because we were OK, otherwise it might have been great tragedy. I humbly learned the greatness of nature. (Yama no kowasa – the fear of mountains) The lesson “Never follow the route that you don’t know.”  I depended on someone else. 

Annaline’s hobby is gardening, she cultivates all kinds of flowers and herbs, so naturally she is interested in flowers and plants, taking pictures of Aoki flowers and Eizan sumire and so on all along the way. George loves music. Eric Clapton’ｓ(？）concert they attended the other day. They even have reunions with the Japanese fans in both countries, Japan and America.

Thank you for a good day. Let’s have our own reunions.                        by Ryo

A photograph collection of private tour on 9 April 2019

We had nice guests from Canada and Hong Kong.

Before start tour, we visited shrine at foot of mountain.

The cherry blossom of the shrine ware full bloom.

This guest couple looked happy.

The view of Mt.Fuji was really great.

Finally, we arrived at the summit.

On the famous suspension bridge.

(By Nosan)

Internal Tour for Plants Hunting held on April 7 2019

So-called spring ephemerals, different kinds of violets, sprouts of various deciduous trees, and on top of them, cherry blossom!! 

This is for showing you some photos I took during our exercising tour, very enjoyable in a nice warm weather with nice 4 colleagues anxious to learn more about plants in Mt. Takao region.

(We didn’t actually “hunt” plants, of course, but did admire various plants as is the case of “Momijigari”).  

Stupa exceptionally open today to celebrate the anniversary of Buddha. 

Yoshino cherries around the lower cable car station. 

One of around 20 species of this genus growing in Japan. With its peculiar shape of flower, it’s called in Western English speaking countries “Cobra Lily” or “Jack-in-the-Pulpit”. 

One of Anemone, very common and often spreading wide along the bank of a stream. You can enjoy this flower for a few more weeks. 

A popular raspberry with its nice taste to bear fruits in orange color in a month or so.

It’s named in Japanese with a meaning of “Maple raspberry” by the shape of the leaf. 

A violet with a name of Takao.

I told my colleagues how to identify different species of violets just ignoring my old saying, “Violets are violets”. 

Hill cherry along the trail No.1 

A kind of Oxalis. First found this day that English term of oxalic acid was so named by this plant. 

Yoshino Cherry and Oshima Cherry around the upper cable car station. 

Cherry blossom at a plateau called Icchoudaira, reachable by 40 mn walking from the summit. 

                                                           (By Sumo)

Wednesday 3 April

We welcomed two lady tourists from Philippines. They and us (Sally, Nabe, and I) met at Takaosanguchi station at 9:15 and started.

We used the cable car and walked to the summit.

The ladies were very friendly so we talked a lot while walking.

Fortunately, we saw beautiful Mt.Fuji from top of Mt.Takao.

After lunch we enjoyed making paper cranes, which we call them “Orizuru”, one of most popular Origami in Japan.

                                                                             (By Kimie)