gunmajet.net

GAJET Endorsed?:
Yes

Event Info:

"Situated on the Gunma-Niigata prefectural border, the mountains of Tanigawa are infamous for claiming many lives each year." -- Hiking in Japan: An Adventurer's Guide to the Mountain Trails, by Paul Hunt (Kodansha International, 1988)
Umm.... yeah, just ignore that bit of info, k? The huge majority of casualties occur during the winter season, when the weather is likely to change suddenly at Tanigawa and unprepared rock climbers are caught unawares. Our planned hike won't make you break anything other than a sweat. Those of you who complained (justifiably) that Mt. Fuji was an ugly moonscape of a mountain will appreciate the stunning views at Tanigawa-dake. Better yet, it's very accessible via train or car. Never mind the fact that last time I was there, I was attacked by a snake.
Here are the details...
Date: Saturday, October 1
Duration: 5-8 hours (5 if you take the cable car up the mountain; 8 if you brave the steep slopes instead)
Distance: 19km
Difficulty: medium
Start: Doai-guchi
Finish: Tsuchitaru
Nearest town: Minakami
Transportation: by train or by carpooling

Hike details (so you have an idea of what you're in for):
Plan to be at the cable-car terminal at Doai-guchi by 9:00am. (See directions below.) From there we'll split up according to who wants to take the cable car to the top (Â¥1000) and who wants to hike up the mountainside and earn the view (no cost, but about 2 1/2 extra hours of hiking). At the top is a lodge, shop and restaurant complex (ahh, the beauty of nature). From there we'll trek northwest toward the main peaks and onto the ridge known as the Tenjin-one. 2-2.5hrs later you'll come to the first of the Tanigawa peaks, Toma-no-mimi (1963m). The next peak is Oki-no-mimi (1977m). As you walk along the ridge, appreciate the fact that your left foot is in Niigata and your right foot is in Gunma. (The Gunma side, of course, is prettier.)
An hour's walk from Toma-no-mimi brings you to Ichi-no-kura-dake (1974m). From there, the main ridge curling to the left will take you to Shigekura-dake (1978m) after 20-30 minutes of walking. Turn left at the intersection and walk downhill into Niigata, straight down the ridge into the forest; 2-3 hours of walking will bring you to a large freeway parking area. Now for the un-scenic part. Cross the small bridge, turn left, wander down the paved road for 20 minutes until another bridge takes you over to the left of the river, almost underneath the freeway. Keep walking about 300m, or so, after which you'll see some steps up under the freeway to Tsuchitaru station. Catch the train from there back to Doai station (where you can disembark to get your car, or continue on south into central Gunma).

Optional after-hike activity:
For those who are interested, we'll carpool afterwards to Takaragawa Onsen, Japan's most famous rotemburo-style hot springs, which is a 15-minute drive up the valley from Minakami. There are five baths there: three mixed (yep, co-ed); one for ladies only; and one for a pair of bears that hang out in the area. (Yes, bears.) The onsen is gorgeous and makes for a perfect, relaxing end to a day of hiking. NOTE: Takaragawa is not accessible by train, so you'll have to carpool if you want to visit the onsen.

What to bring:
* Plenty of water and a packed lunch, plus snacks for the trail
* Good, comfortable shoes (sneakers are okay, but hiking shoes with a good grip are better)
* Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat
* Camera
* A small towel for the onsen (if you plan to go)
Cost:
* Train fare (sample fare: ¥1110 one-way from Takasaki to Doai Station) or split-cost of gas for carpoolers
* Parking fee (likely around ¥500 per vehicle)
* Cable-car ¥1000 fee (if you plan to take it)
* Onsen admittance fee (if you plan to go -- bring ¥1000 to be on the safe side)
If you're interested in joining this hike, send me an e-mail with the following information:
1. Your name
2. E-mail address
3. Contact phone number (keitai is best)
4. Location
5. Do you have a car? If so, how many passengers other than yourself can you bring?
6. Do you want to visit the onsen afterward?
If you want to carpool, the DEADLINE for signing up is: Tuesday, September 27. If you plan on taking the train, you can sign up all the way up to and including the day of the climb; just meet us there!

Location:
Tanigawa-dake
Closest town: Minakami
Closest train station: Doai Station, on the JR Joetsu line

Directions:
BY TRAIN: Take the Joetsu Line to Doai Station. Exit the station into an underground tunnel, walk up 462 steps until you're above ground, turn right and hike 15 minutes along the road to the cable-car terminal, where we'll begin our hike. Check www.hyperdia.com to find the easiest way from your station to Doai. Make sure you plan on arriving at Doai by 8:30am, since it will take you 20-30 minutes to walk to the cable-car terminal.
BY CAR: Take route 17 north toward Minakami, turn right on route 291 toward Minakami and head further north for a long while; you will eventually see blue road signs leading you to Tanigawa-dake. Park near the cable-car terminal. (Alternatively, take the Kan-Etsu expressway north and exit at the Minakami I.C., get on route 291 going north, and follow directions as above.)
BY TRAIN/BUS: Take the train to Minakami station, and take a bus from there to the bottom of the cable-car terminal (Â¥650, 30 minutes).
You can find a useful map of the Takaragawa/Tanigawa area here:
http://www.minakami-onsen.com/english/map2.html

Contact Info:
Sign-ups? Questions? Concerns? Drop me a line.
Daniel
goblinrocker@mac.com
090-7187-0998