Mount Takao, Autumn Edition
My last long term stay in Japan was also during autumn/winter (from September 2007 to February 2008), yet I don't remember seeing any autumn foliage or really experiencing the season much at all (I do remember it rained a lot, but that's about it).
Japan is very proud of its four seasons. Seasonal food and events are a huge part of the Japanese lifestyle, so this year I was determined to get out there and truly experience autumn. I've been doing the autumn colours stamp rally (still need three more stamps to get a free calendar!), but I wanted to go further still. I had been thinking about going back to Takao, even though I was there earlier this summer, so when illusoire asked if anyone wanted to go to Takao, I gladly joined.
It was for sure an interesting trip, if you ever plan on climbing Takao during autumn, do yourself a favour and don't do it on a public holiday!
This was November 23rd, which is 勤労感謝の日, or Labor Thanksgiving Day, in Japan.
I got off the train at Takaosanguchi station, and it was Tokyo rush hour level crowded!
TDLより混んでいる気がする。(笑)
ケーブルカーに乗れるかなぁ pic.twitter.com/veJvk2pjlR
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
This is right outside the train station. I'd been to Disneyland the day before, and Disneyland felt less crowded than this!
When I was here earlier this summer with Christian and my mum, we took the cable car up. I wondered how bad the wait would be.
Hahahha はい。無理です。 pic.twitter.com/lsrxFwmwiN
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
Yeeeeah. The sign just says "70+ minute wait for cable car" "50+ minute wait for chair lift".
Hiking it was. Which was perfectly fine, that's why you go to the mountain, isn't it?
We basically hiked in a line like this all the way up to the top. Some groups were really rushing! We stepped to the side and let people pass whenever we wanted to take pictures. It ended up being a good workout, though. I don't think I've ever climbed Takao that fast before - this was my fourth time climbing it.
View from the top. Beautiful gradient of colours, a shame about the dull, grey skies.
Of course the top was also ridiculously crowded. I'm glad I'd climbed it before and knew what it usually looks like up there!
Scene at the top. Hahahhaha. pic.twitter.com/gAuC9ytsmf
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
Comparison with a picture from earlier this summer:
I'm not sure why I didn't think of the fact that people would be picnicking at the top. With hanami being such a huge thing, of course people also come prepared when going out to look at the autumn foliage. People bought ramen from the shop at the top, and a lot of people had brought cup noodles and thermoses with hot water. The whole top area smelled like ramen, it smelled delicious! The line for the shop was really long, though. Some other time!
We hung out for a while, even tried to get some studying done as we're both taking the JLPT this Saturday, but the weather took a turn for the worse, it even started raining a bit. It was freezing cold. We slowly made our way down towards the cable car, maybe the wait was better from the top?
Unfortunately it wasn't. So we got in line for Tengu yaki. Similar to taiyaki, except shaped like a Tengu. I think we stood in line for 30 minutes, but the treat was absolutely worth it. Piping hot, freshly made - delicious waffle crust, and sweet filling of azuki beans. The filling in particular was addictive!
This really hit the spot. Delicious! pic.twitter.com/N8eFQBur5i
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
This team of rescue workers and fire fighters showed up while we were nomming on our Tengu yaki. They had a lot of gear with them, but didn't seem to be in any kind of hurry.
We decided to give the cable car a miss and just walk back down.
It was a fun outing and a good hike! Next year I'll go on a regular weekday!
Japan is very proud of its four seasons. Seasonal food and events are a huge part of the Japanese lifestyle, so this year I was determined to get out there and truly experience autumn. I've been doing the autumn colours stamp rally (still need three more stamps to get a free calendar!), but I wanted to go further still. I had been thinking about going back to Takao, even though I was there earlier this summer, so when illusoire asked if anyone wanted to go to Takao, I gladly joined.
It was for sure an interesting trip, if you ever plan on climbing Takao during autumn, do yourself a favour and don't do it on a public holiday!
This was November 23rd, which is 勤労感謝の日, or Labor Thanksgiving Day, in Japan.
I got off the train at Takaosanguchi station, and it was Tokyo rush hour level crowded!
TDLより混んでいる気がする。(笑)
ケーブルカーに乗れるかなぁ pic.twitter.com/veJvk2pjlR
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
This is right outside the train station. I'd been to Disneyland the day before, and Disneyland felt less crowded than this!
When I was here earlier this summer with Christian and my mum, we took the cable car up. I wondered how bad the wait would be.
Hahahha はい。無理です。 pic.twitter.com/lsrxFwmwiN
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
Yeeeeah. The sign just says "70+ minute wait for cable car" "50+ minute wait for chair lift".
Hiking it was. Which was perfectly fine, that's why you go to the mountain, isn't it?
We basically hiked in a line like this all the way up to the top. Some groups were really rushing! We stepped to the side and let people pass whenever we wanted to take pictures. It ended up being a good workout, though. I don't think I've ever climbed Takao that fast before - this was my fourth time climbing it.
View from the top. Beautiful gradient of colours, a shame about the dull, grey skies.
Of course the top was also ridiculously crowded. I'm glad I'd climbed it before and knew what it usually looks like up there!
Scene at the top. Hahahhaha. pic.twitter.com/gAuC9ytsmf
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
Comparison with a picture from earlier this summer:
I'm not sure why I didn't think of the fact that people would be picnicking at the top. With hanami being such a huge thing, of course people also come prepared when going out to look at the autumn foliage. People bought ramen from the shop at the top, and a lot of people had brought cup noodles and thermoses with hot water. The whole top area smelled like ramen, it smelled delicious! The line for the shop was really long, though. Some other time!
We hung out for a while, even tried to get some studying done as we're both taking the JLPT this Saturday, but the weather took a turn for the worse, it even started raining a bit. It was freezing cold. We slowly made our way down towards the cable car, maybe the wait was better from the top?
Unfortunately it wasn't. So we got in line for Tengu yaki. Similar to taiyaki, except shaped like a Tengu. I think we stood in line for 30 minutes, but the treat was absolutely worth it. Piping hot, freshly made - delicious waffle crust, and sweet filling of azuki beans. The filling in particular was addictive!
This really hit the spot. Delicious! pic.twitter.com/N8eFQBur5i
- Tove ・ とうふ (@twiss) November 23, 2016
This team of rescue workers and fire fighters showed up while we were nomming on our Tengu yaki. They had a lot of gear with them, but didn't seem to be in any kind of hurry.
We decided to give the cable car a miss and just walk back down.
It was a fun outing and a good hike! Next year I'll go on a regular weekday!