I was looking for an easy hike close to Tokyo for a misty early autumn day. I had done this long ridgeline twice before, each time on sunny days in the late autumn, so I was familiar with this views; this time, it seemed I’d get to experience a different aspect of the mountain. To reach the start of the hike, I’d take JR local lines to Musashi-Itsukaichi station and from there catch the 9am Nishi-Tokyo bus, for the one-hour ride to the trail entrance.
Hiking in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park
秩父多摩甲斐国立公園
Hiking the Kanto Fureai no Michi 関東ふれあいの道
For the most part I’d follow a level trail along the Kanto Fureai no Michi, ending at Hossowa Falls, about a thirty minute bus ride back to the station. Some rain was supposed to fall throughout the day but I hoped it would just be light drizzle instead of a heavy downpour. On the bright side, this meant I could expect less people on this trail and so I was looking forward to a relaxing ramble through a familiar area.
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Lots of clouds at the start of the hike
Same view but in good weather (2014 photo)
Light rain started to fall as soon as I got off the bus at the Sengen Ridge Trailhead (浅間尾根登山口); fortunately the bus shelter kept me dry while I got ready. At 10am, I started up a switchback trail leading to the top of the Sengen Ridge. Soon after setting off, the rain stopped, although I could still get wet from the tall grass lining the path. Darks clouds hang overhead but as expected I had the trail mostly to myself.
View South of the Mito-Jimba Ridgeline
Looking down at Hinohara Town
At 1130, I reached a viewpoint on top of an area cleared of trees; through the slowly lifting mist, I could see the ridgeline connecting Mt Mito and Mt Jinba. This deforestation was relatively new as I had no recollection of seeing it 4 years before; I passed several more such areas on the way. Soon after, I spotted the first mushrooms of the year, shaped as parasols; the ground was strewn with chestnut burrs (“igaguri“), both signs of the approaching autumn season.
View North of Mt Gozen
Misty Panorama from Sengenrei
At noon, light rain started to fall again, so I bypassed the true summit, taking a detour on the north side, soon arriving at the Sengen Ridge Rest Area, its most important feature being an open shelter. It was the perfect time to take a lunch break. After 30 minutes the rain stopped and I made my way to the observation deck on the lesser summit of Sengenrei (浅間嶺 せんげんれい), a Kanto 100 famous mountain, where I enjoyed a misty panorama. At 1pm, I continued on my way, now on the Kanto Fureai no Michi. After a slippery descent, I turned right at a crossing, and followed a path hugging the north side of the ridge.
Sunny View from the top of Sengenrei (2014 photo)
View North of Mt Odake (2014 photo)
I had several wide views of the misty foothills on the other side of the valley from the top of some more clearings, although the highest points were hidden in the clouds. A little before 2pm, I headed down a rocky river valley, spotting a toad along the way, trying its best to blend in next to a mossy rock. It was only past Tokisaka pass (時坂峠), that I started seeing the first “Jorogumo” spiders of the day, forcing me to wave my stick in front of me to clear the way of hard to spot webs.
View North of Mt Gozen (2014 photo)
Hossowa Falls at the end of the hike
I had almost reached the end of the hike when it started to rain again, this time harder than before. I picked up the pace, arriving at the parking lot at 3pm. I sped up and down the well-maintained path for the falls, my 3rd visit overall, Hossowa waterfall (払沢の滝) looking quite impressive this time, thanks to the more than average rainfall this year. I made sure to buy a box of tofu donuts from nearby Chitoseya before heading to the shelter to wait for the bus back to Musashi-Itsukaichi station, which I reached at 5pm and from where it was a one hour ride back to Shinjuku.
Watch a Video of the Sengenrei Hike
Watch the Video of the Hike on YouTube
See a slideshow of more photos of the hike
Hiking Around Tokyo 
Hi David
This is 懐かしい。。。I can’t count how many times I’ve been over, under and around that ridge. I used to bike around there quite a bit, too.
Bummer about the weather. I escaped to Niigata today because it looked to be just past the rain that was forecast for today. I lucked out. It wasn’t exactly akibare, but there was no rain and I did see a lot of fall foliage.
Take care
Thanks, it’s a great hike, as long as one can make the early bus from the train station!