No Plan - Getting Lost in Ujitawara.

Ujitawara.

 
   So, what is a "no plan - getting lost" trip? Quite simply, it's where I choose a destination (that's the only plan), make a bee-line for that destination then, upon arrival, find a thoroughfare (of any shape-or-size) and go from there. Up to now I have never got lost on one of these trips, unlike a planned outing when I am almost guaranteed to get lost. They are awesome. I never know what to expect and, on all the occasions I have done one of these trips, I have returned and, in many cases, added to my created course.

   On this occasion I chose the Jubu-san road that borders the towns of Wazuka and Ujitawara. I have traveled this road many times - both on foot and bike - and have descended some of the many tracks that take one through a variety of environments - tea-plantations, rice-fields, dense forest, picturesque-secluded settlements - to reach the bottom. 

Map Location.

   It was this gate that captured my interest and, after a few minutes break (to this point I was 28km from home, the last 10km uphill), I decided that this was to be the beginning of today's "No Plan - Getting-Lost" course. 
   This Video is an introduction to the Jubu-san road and the junction (I will attach a link, at the conclusion of this post, of the descent and emergence from the forest. As-well-as other videos) .

Linden Baum - cafe & restaurant.
Map Location.

   15-minutes and 4.5km later, after a descent of 384m, I emerged into the settlement of Shimonoto, on the rural-outskirts of Ujitawara, and my first "discovery" of the day - the Linden Baum Cafe & Restaurant. Tucked-away amongst this little community one could have quite-easily missed this (the only reason I found it was because I wanted to record a video of the area). 
   An obscure-overgrown track, that disappeared into the bushy-hillside, lured me to my next destination but, after some searching, I decided to give-it-a-miss and u-turned back to the village.

   As I was returning, I happened-across this derelict/abandoned house. A friend of mine (softypapa), who specializes in discovering & recording abandoned houses, stirred-up my interest in the same and I soon found myself checking this out.
   About 1km down the road I arrived at a junction, in front of me I could make out a busy road (it was route-307), so I took the lane to my right and headed back into the hills via the village Yuyadani. These thoroughfares are so narrow they must be hell to navigate in a truck/bus. This lane soon petered-out and emerged into a clearing where a junction, comprising of six tracks, converged. In front of me was a noticeboard with a map of all the hiking trails in the area (further on, at my next stop,I found maps of these trails) but, not wanting to venture too far from home, I u-turned and took another track back in the direction I had just come from. After passing-by a tea-plantation, I was soon confronted by two men who's car had got stuck in the mud (check this video out) and was obliged to assist. After several failed attempts, a third man offered to get his small truck and tow them.

Chasomyo-jinja.

Birthplace of
Nagatani Soen.

     Emerging from the forest I was soon to happen-across my next "discovery" of the day. This site came as a shock to me and I decided to rest-up, have a bite-to-eat, and check-out the surroundings. The Shrine, looking many hundreds-of-years old (in fact it was erected in 1954), is used to enshrine the spirit of Nagatani Soen who developed the tea-processing method which involves steaming, kneading and drying, and is still used today. As I passed-through the Shrine complex, I noticed signs informing me of a hiking course in the area. Upon return home, and some map research, I discovered the track finishes at the same area where I first commenced this course (needless-to-say, it has been placed on my "must do" list). Across the lane from the Shrine is the birthplace of Nagatani Soen and today is used to preserve the Hoiro (equipment used to roast and dry tea-leaves over a fire). 

   When recording this video, I retraced my steps to give you an idea of the emotion I experienced as I descended into this site.

   After lunch, which consisted of a sultana-malt loaf and some sticky chocolate donuts, and washed-down with a hot coffee, I was back on my seat and another secluded track. Exiting the settlement of Yuyadani, and back towards route-307, a narrow lane up into the hills caught my attention, and I was off to explore more of Ujitawara. 

Map Location.

   Passing through more tea-plantation, I was soon to happen-across another wee treat. Yes. Another cafe and, like the Linden Baum Cafe discovered earlier, this too is in an isolated location. Bugger, if I'd known earlier, I would have stopped here for lunch. But, not to worry, I'll be back (now where have I hear that before?).

Map Location.

   I soon found myself at another junction and, checking the road-sign - giving directions to Jubu-san - I knew exactly where I was (I have descended this track twice in the past and is hair-raising to say the least). A concrete Torii, still adorned in Autumn foliage, with a long flight-of-steps disappearing into the forested hills, was my next stop. As I was doing good time (it was not yet 12pm) I decided to check this complex out ( sorry, unable to attach a name). It was nothing special but, as I have a fondness for these sites (if you hadn't already guessed) I couldn't see any harm stopping.
   By now I am nearing route-307, and the commercial area of Ujitawara and the completion of this outing. But, there was one more wee find that nearly made me to come in collision with a car. 

Map Location.

This obscured vermillion-colored Torii, flanked by  two Kitsune, told me that this was an Inari Shrine and, once ascending the steps, I discovered that it was  in need of urgent repair but, as I looked-around, I realized that this complex fitted-in with it's  environs perfectly. As seen in this video.

   A hundred metres down the road from the Inari Shrine, was the Sannomiya-jinja, which was where I decided to bring this fantastic journey to an end. As I had seen & experienced so much during the past 4.5-hours, I was eager to get home (an hours cycle from here), upload my videos and photos and search the internet for any relevant information to include in with this post. And what a lot there was too. I will definitely be returning to the Ujitawara area to add to this course - I am already planning to hike the trail from Chasomyo-jinja to Kontai-ji, and hope to do it in the next week.

   So, from Ujitawara, thanks for reading and watch-out for more from my files of "No Plan - Getting-Lost" outings.

   Videos from today's outing:   Tea Plantation, Jubu-zan Road Ujitawara.

                                                                Descent from Jubu-zan Road.

                                                                   Emergence from mountain into Shimonoto.

                                                                

In Search of Fudo no Taki.

      Taki, in Japanese, means Waterfall. Fudo, being a Buddhist God-Type   figure, is associated with Mountain Asceticism.

Koishidani-jinja.
Map Location.

   The idea to go in search of Fudo no Taki goes-back some months when, while on one of my hiking expeditions ( I was hiking along the Kizugawa between Kasagi Town and Minaimyamashiro, on what is known as the Tokaido Road.) when I stopped for a bite-to-eat at the Koishidani-jinja. While sitting on the Kagura-den (in the right in the image), and consuming my lunch in the beautiful sunshine, I spotted a pile of maps. Curiosity getting the better of me, plus my hobby of collecting & reading maps, I took a peek and soon discovered a huge network of hiking tracks in the hills behind Minamiyamashiro. I have passed-through these hills several times in the past and wasn't aware that there were so many lanes & tracks throughout the area. The hills have a plateau on the summit, before descending into Wazuka-cho, with many secluded villages spread throughout (my kinda' environment). But it was an icon on the map that captured my attention. Fudo no Taki was located in such a position that would allow me to do a one-way hike, beginning at Kasagi-cho, and finishing at the village of Yubune. 

Kasagi Bridge & Kizu River.
Video.

   After crossing the Kizu River, via the Kasage Bridge, and before disappearing into the hills, an object midway up Kasagiyama captured my attention. Of the many times I have been in this area, I have never noticed this monument before (it has been placed on my "Must return and Check-out" list for a later date).
   From here I was to cross the very busy route-163 and head-into my kinda' environment - isolated settlements, rural scenery, dense forests/bush and, my most favorite, the sounds of the outdoors. The settlement of Yudani, still part of Kasagi Town, is one of those places where you envy those 

Yudani Settlement.
Video.

 that live there. But, as easy as it is for me to say that, I feel one has to be prepared for the isolation -  one can't just pop-around the corner for a bottle-of-milk. But dreams don't cost anything.

Map location.

   My first junction and my first Jizo of the day followed soon after, and, from here, time to farewell civilization and say hello to the hills and the forest. This area wasn't new to me. I discovered this mountain lane quite by accident when a signpost, informing me of a hiking course, lured me to investigate. On that occasion I was descending. 
   In the following video you get the impression I am unfit. Well, you would be partly correct. I have just spent the past hour ascending through a forest that still has splashes of Autumn color amongst the foliage. But, to emerge from that environment into the rural scenery of Dosenbo, was well worth the pain (brought-about by a pebble in my boot). 

 

   Passing through isolated areas, such as Dosenbo, one quite often stumbles-across interesting places such as this.

Video.

I have passed this dwelling twice in the past, both times on bike so, on this occasion, I was able to take a good look at it. My first impression, judging by the outdoor furniture, that this was an isolated cafe. No such luck. I would have fancied a coffee at this moment.

Map location.

   Three junctions later, and more great rural scenery, I arrive at this point. My plan is to take the right branch to Fudo-no-Taki then, upon return, continue via the left branch. My research leads me to believe that this track will bring me onto another track and, eventually onto route-5. But first, lets check-out the waterfall. I found the track to the 'falls to be undulating but, within about 5-minutes, I could hear the distinct sound of rushing water.

   I am always conscious, especially when on my own and in an isolated area, of the risks involved if I become too eager to explore the surroundings. And this is no exception. After the rain of the previous day, I was aware that the rocks may be slippery. And they were. As I got closer to the 'falls, the sound was quite deafening, as is evident on the video.

Hidden to one side, in amongst the bush, I spotted this old wooden ladder & guide-rope (or what was left of it) and, putting two-and-two-together, I deduced that it led to the top of the 'falls. Ascending & descending this wasn't easy. In one pocked was my (new) video-camera. In another was my G.P.S. device and, in my hand, was my other camera & tripod. But I made it. 

   The view from above was as brilliant as the view from below,but much more dangerous and, as the surface of the rocks were treacherous, I wasn't taking any risks. But up there, I could see how the water has gouged-out the canal into many smooth and various shapes. I am keen to return and take a better look further upstream. I got the feeling there was much more to see. Back to ground-level and a bite-to-eat before exiting and onto my next destination - bush-bashing through uncharted and unsignposted terrain.

Video.

   About 200-meters into the bush the track came to an abrupt end, and I was then left with the decision - do I u-turn or continue ahead? As I could see a stream below me, I decided to ascend to it and follow it out in the hope it would connect me to my next junction and onto route-5, and a lunch-stop. The video gives you an idea of the terrain I had just emerged from. As-soon-as I emerged onto the track, I knew exactly where I was and lunch was only a few minutes away.

Map location.

    
Lunch was at this disused (I suspect) cafe, and consisted of hot curry and bread-sticks, washed-down with a coffee. It also allowed me the opportunity to remove my boots and air-out my feet, before the next and final segment.
   The next 5-kilometers were along the narrow route-5 and a very different environment - farmland. 

Video.

And, in this case, Tea. Check-out how narrow the road is, and how close to the road the tea plants are. A good insurance policy is needed by the workers harvesting the tea.

Video.

My next destination was the village of Yubune and the settlement of Nakayama. A few weeks back, while out on my bike, I stopped-off here and discovered this amazing Temple and I was eager to return with video-camera. If the settlement itself was quaint, the temple was just awesome. Access was through the settlement and up some steep steps before arriving at the complex. 
   My plan was to end my day here then catch the bus back to the J.R.Kamo Station. This being an isolated rural area, the bus-service is few-and-far-between and I soon realized I had an hour to kill. So, what better way to pass-the-time, than a stroll through Yubune.

Map location.

I was also on the look-out for a spot where I could sit and use-up the last of my hot water for one more cup-of-coffee with the spicy doughnuts in my pack. And, as luck would have it, I happened-across the local Gateball court, where some senior residents of the town were competing. This was the perfect end to the perfect days hiking. 

   
   Links;   Kasagi-to-Yubune. Part-1.
                 Kasagi-to-Yubune. Part-2.