Omoshiroyama Kogen
babibubebo | 30 09 2006If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting and enjoy the photos from Japan!
Omoshiroyama is the in Yamagata Prefecture and one stop before Yamadera on the Senzan Line and about 50 minutes from Sendai. Omoshiroyama Kogen has a nice hiking trail that runs next to a river. If you want to go to Yamadera but want to do some hiking as well, Omishiroyama Kogen is a good place to get off.
The hiking trail is about a 45 minute to an hour walk (assuming you are not stopping to take photographs–it took me about an hour and half taking photographs), but then after the trail runs out you have to walk another 45 minutes or an hour to get to Yamadera. Also there is not much as far as signs pointing where to go, so don’t go by yourself or don’t go if you are short on time and want to make it to Yamadera.
The hiking trail is really quite beautiful, especially during fall, as you pass by waterfalls, through a gorge and over bridges; however at some points the route can be a little slippery and very narrow. Once you get to the end of the trail you will go up some steps which will take you to a pathway which leads to a road. Once you get to the road, turn right (downhill) and there shoot be signs coming up soon to verify you are going towards Yamadera. Again I do not recommend going by yourself.
The above photo was taken after the hiking trail and walking along the road towards Yamadera.
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wow the pictures are great of japan... i wish i
Paru | 30 03 2009wow the pictures are great of japan… i wish i can visit…XD one day
Thanks for the tipp! We (2 travellers from Germany with
Thomas | 12 08 2009Thanks for the tipp! We (2 travellers from Germany with hiking experience) went this tour today and can only confirm your comments.
Currently (August) the path was closed but we decided to try our luck anyway. The path can be completed without a guide, nevertheless you should not walk alone. And not without a possibility to contact emergency services.
On a rainy day (or just after heavy rainfalls in previous days) the trail might even be flooded.
!!! You should definitely wear proper hiking shoes and long pants !!! We encoutered rather large snakes (not sure what kind) and therefore you should always watch your steps carefully.
Here’s a list of our recommendataions:
- Only walk the path after a period of non-rainy days
- Dont walk if you are afraid of snakes, bridges and narrow paths
- Take a cellphone (which can operate in Japan) and the number for theenglish-speaking emergency service
- Make sure you take enough water and some food
- !!! WEAR PROPER SHOES !!! We did it in Flip-Flops butafter the first snake swiftly gliding right between our feet and into the river, we wished we had taken our hiking-boots
Apart from these fewrecommendations we can only state that this tour is really quite beautiful and once you arrive at the top of the temple of yamadera, you will certainly be satisfied with your day.
WRITE DOWN THE ROUTE DISCRIPTION IN THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE – once we found the trail, we had no problem finding our way to yamadera. If you ask locals in Omoshiroyama Kogen for the path, they will most likely try to lead you to the road to yamadera but not show you the “real” hiking trail.
And one last thing: No signs in omoshiroyama kogen or along the trail are in English, so make sure you write down the Japanese Spelling for Yamadera.
Best wishes and good luck,
T&V