Japan visit #14 - October and November 2026 - Page 8

Nishi-Fujiwara is a kind of train museum as you shall see, and have seen before if you recall my two previous trips here.

I shall go up there, where there is a quarry near the top. You will see it later. That is the train that brought me here, the only other people on it were hikers, and all the car parks were overflowing, very popular route today which you also shall see.

There are a couple of old trains on the platform to climb over if you wish, and also a railroad you can ride on for children, I asked if they could fire it up for me, they refused.

Still nice and clear looking skies, remember that, there will be a comparison photo later.

Today's bear photo is the cute kind, advising you that radios and bells make bears angry.

The actual start of the trail today is only 5 or so minutes from the station.

Immediate switchbacks, with some wooden steps. This hike is very direct, steep, but quite short.

A fence. Strange.

The lower parts are smaller rocks, and big trees, and lots of people to scare the bears away, it was a constant sea of bear bell dinging.

First almost view, do not worry, there will be a lot more view... from the plateau.

The forest is gone, now for some low trees and slightly bigger rocks.

Starting to get smoky. Nearly all the trees have lost their leaves, I think I am 2 weeks too late. My last visit with peak scenery was on 3 November 2024.

Do you value your ankles?

Quite steep. You can kind of see the quarry here too.

This spot is the crossroads of the longer ridge hike which people do over multiple days and camp. There is a spot to sleep here, and a public toilet, and a whole lot of people.

That hill across the plateau over there will be my ultimate destination today, with the path snaking up it, but first I will explore some quieter parts of the plateau behind me as there is currently a giant group of hikers going up to the peak.

I really enjoy this rocky plateau, it was much greener last time I was here and people were setting up tents.

Looks like rolling hills, but it is on top of a mountain.

Nice, but hard to walk over.

The sad lone tree. Quite the metaphor.

Now I will head to the main peak. So many people around.

Still some green parts left. I think maybe it has snowed here already this year.

A bit hard to see, but that hill has a lot of rocks rolling down it.

Almost at the main peak. I will never understand the desire of people to carry a hot meal to the top, its 11:30am and most people will be down by 2pm.

Summit marker is rather unremarkable given the locations popularity.

View time, probably the best view.

Quarry on the right of that ridge, squint and you can see 2 excavators.

Back over there is the camp spot and toilet I showed earlier.

I wandered away from the group, to photograph the group.

A lot more brown mountains.

Redundant photo.

Time to head down.

On the way up there are not too many places to stop and sit, a few people choose this spot, with the number 8 out of 10 marker.

The path down was the same as the path up.

Not much colour to admire today, this was probably the best bit.

Here is the photo to compare to earlier, so much smoke, it creates an eerie twilight, the photograph probably makes it seem clearer than it was.

And finally, THE STANCE.

Now I will show photos of all the things I mentioned above, here is the station forecourt, under full re development, like every single train station in Japan.

War protest, with cuddly bunny and glow sticks. Also a lot of drums and megaphones, there were not many people but it was very loud.

Now for the Aeon mall at Noritake garden, with ancient concrete pillars.

I diverted into the garden itself to observe the illumination.

The inside of this mall, now 2 years older, still appears brand new, and very western in its design.

This is where I ate last time, I was late and not much was open, and it was not a weekend. Tonight I am earlier, everything is open and it being a weekend there are people everywhere.

There is a cat cafe in the mall. The gold lettering reads 'Travel the cat world. Fill your suitcase with treasures. They all have a story that becomes a treasure for life.'
There are at least 10 cats in this photo.

Oh hello, it is a food court. I do not think I have eaten at a food court yet on this trip.

Pepper lunch it is. With kimchi of course. That's too much meat.

If the food court is not your thing, there are 3 different themed 'food streets', one on each level.

And finally, due to lack of photos, a bonus shot of the outside.
Tomorrow I go back to Tokyo. I will stretch that into an all day journey as I do.