Okutama – Hiking Around Tokyo

From Li Kun.

The last time I hiked in Okutama was back in August 2023. This May, I returned with a friend—and as always, spring has a way of making everything feel fresh and alive.

I first hiked from Kori Station (古里駅) to Okutama Station (奧多摩駅) in mid-August 2023. This May, I started from Hatonosu (鳩ノ巣駅), passed through Okutama Station, and went all the way to Lake Okutama (奥多摩湖).

But honestly, the Kori to Okutama stretch still wins in terms of scenery. If you're short on time, you won't miss too much by skipping the part between Okutama Station and the lake.

I heard that some people have seen bears around Okutama, but I was lucky—only ran into a few monkeys.

On the way back, at a highway rest stop, I was listening to Teresa Teng’s album. Even though she passed away in 1995, I still love her music. I’ve always heard she was very popular in Japan decades ago, but when I asked some younger Japanese folks, none of them had heard of her.

If I don’t know the name of a flower, I just call it a “nameless flower.”       (名無しの花)

The water here is such a vivid green! I’d love to take a boat out on it.

福島

 From Li Kun.

To most people, Fukushima is primarily known for its nuclear power plant. However, its scenic landscapes also deserve attention.

At the end of April, I went on a trip to Fukushima with my friend. We mainly visited Lake Inawashiro (猪苗代湖), Mount Bandai (磐梯山), and Mount Issaikyo (一切経山). Unfortunately, the weather during our visit wasn't very good—it was either windy or rainy—so the experience on the road wasn't the best. Still, we were deeply impressed by the breathtaking scenery.

From the top of Mount Issaikyo, I got my first full view of a volcanic crater: the striking Azuma-Kofuji (吾妻小富士).

Standing atop Azuma-Kofuji, I was struck by the vast, barren terrain that resembled a gobi desert—stark and beautiful in its own way.

                                                

 五色沼（魔女の瞳）

 Goshikinuma Pond (The Witch's Eye)

To my surprise, there was still a lot of snow on Mount Bandai, which made the hike quite challenging. Even more unexpectedly, I came across an abandoned onsen ryokan. It was closed down because the hot spring had run dry (from comment of google map).