Located near the heart of the Boso peninsula, this intermediate-level loop hike perfect for the cooler days of Winter and early Spring. Along the way, one can get views of the Pacific Ocean, Tokyo Bay, the Miura Peninsula, Mt Atago, Mt Kano, Mt Iyo and Mt Tomi; the area is also known for its many flowers, especially daffodils (“suisen“) in January and cherry blossoms in April, as well as its terraced rice paddies (“senmaida“).
Terraced Fields on the East Side
If going by public transport, buses run infrequently between Sakuma Dam and Hotta station on the JR Uchibo so it’s important to confirm the timetable beforehand; depending on the season, one can take advantage of the Sazanami limited express from Shinjuku. If time allows, one can drop by at Waraku no yu for a hot bath before heading back.
Mt Tsumori from the Start of the Hike
The climb from the base to the top of Mt Tsumori (津森山 つもりやま tsumori-yama) was pleasant and the views eastwards towards Kamogawa town, the Pacific Ocean and Mt Atago were unexpectedly beautiful; closer by, rice terraces covered the mountain side.
Mt Atago from Mt Tsumori
After a short break at the summit, I made my way along a mix of hiking paths and roads to the frighteningly named Mt Hitobone (人骨山 ひとぼねやま hitobone-yama meaning “person’s bone”). Here the views were mostly of the hills towards the South and the West, with the outline of Mt Fuji visible against the late afternoon sun.
View of the Boso Mountains
After another break, I headed down and followed an adventurous trail through a marshland at the bottom of the valley – it was quite atmospheric in the late afternoon light. Eventually I emerged onto a road and arrived at lake Sakuma just as the sun was setting.
Watch a Video of the Hike
Hiking Around Tokyo 