VGMAND 2015 Tokyo - Mt Takao
First off I just want to say that my vertical stamina has not been good after getting hit by two separate bouts of pneumonia. Within ten minutes of attempting to walk up a paved route that has a _continuous_ 20-30 degrees(Correct if I'm wrong about the incline) upslope, I know I'm not used to said strain on my heart and went back down to the base to take the cable car up. I know I'm known to walk more than 3km with a 5kg doll bag on mostly flat ground but I was here to enjoy myself, not put myself in the hospital.
The front cover of the Keio line MT Takao round trip tickets that you can get from Shinjuku station. Mine includes cable car and chair lift rides.
Gotta say that Shinjuku station is huge, with a few separate companies lines spread over a huge underground network. Do note your timing and your route, may or may not involved route switch. By now, my own policy is that if a day trip requires more than two hours train ride there, I might consider getting hotel accomdation nearer to the spot and spend 3-4 days exploring the neighbouring area as well.
Right outside the station is the map if you have not determined your route prior.
Stores and eateries line the pathway to the base of the mountain. Clearly I'm here rather early...
Nooo no no no. That's not the incline, that's just the side of the paved route.
Somewhere around the half way point,
Enroute to the temple, didn't go monkey park. Much walking done.
Hyfrangrea, hydrangeas everywhere!
Yup, some stairs to climb, I'm still okay with this.
Er.... One of the reasons I'm here was that I was curious about the Tengu association with the mountain. You can blame Mr Karate(aka Takuma Sakazaki in Tengu mask) for this. You are aware that my trips are mainly motivated by the themes and history that get incorparted into video games, mangas and animes right? Wait till I get to Ise and chunnibyo up KOF for the Orochi theme. If not Yuyu Hakusho for Kyoto(not that it took place in Kyoto but the Kurama and Hiei reference).
Eventually I made to the top, the incline is managable here. For some reason I keep running into a group of American tourists led by their local guide to the top and back down and all the way to the carpark across the road. I was like "Lol! Them again."
There's a cat up top and a sign that says no feed said cat in the area.
A nice bowl of soba with mushroom in it before going down. I realised after I came down that there were some places that I forgot to detour to in my tired state of mind.
Random bug on the way down. I have no idea what it is. Cicada? You know you're in Japan when random spots in town is filled with the sound of cicadas. Note that the sound that cicadas make was also incorporated into animes.
Chair lift! There's a net below but you still need to be careful and not drop your small objects (ie dolls, camera, coin, etc). Getting off one take a bit of doing to avoid a trip back up or down. So take note when you're near the start/end points.
I went to the main road for a look see, I think I was up the mountain for 5 hours or so. Ended up with feet blisters that made me drop my onsen/sento trips. Thank goodness for hotel bathtub and LUSH bath products XD
Lost in Nippori (Technically)
Ghost in the shell vs Digimon challenge
A fair there was a fair, Shop for dolliehs while you're there.
1st Salvo - Itabashi Hanabi
Mt Takao
Slow Day in Tsukiji
Akiba Dolliehs!! Take my money!!!
Ride the bus/tram/train - Oji
Togenuki Jizo in Sugamo
Stalking cats in Yanaka
Ueno Park crow encounter
Slamdunk opening and Gotokuji Maneki neko
Asagaya Tanabata Steet
Tokyo Bay Hanabi in Odaiba
The front cover of the Keio line MT Takao round trip tickets that you can get from Shinjuku station. Mine includes cable car and chair lift rides.
Gotta say that Shinjuku station is huge, with a few separate companies lines spread over a huge underground network. Do note your timing and your route, may or may not involved route switch. By now, my own policy is that if a day trip requires more than two hours train ride there, I might consider getting hotel accomdation nearer to the spot and spend 3-4 days exploring the neighbouring area as well.
Right outside the station is the map if you have not determined your route prior.
Stores and eateries line the pathway to the base of the mountain. Clearly I'm here rather early...
Nooo no no no. That's not the incline, that's just the side of the paved route.
Somewhere around the half way point,
Enroute to the temple, didn't go monkey park. Much walking done.
Hyfrangrea, hydrangeas everywhere!
Yup, some stairs to climb, I'm still okay with this.
Er.... One of the reasons I'm here was that I was curious about the Tengu association with the mountain. You can blame Mr Karate(aka Takuma Sakazaki in Tengu mask) for this. You are aware that my trips are mainly motivated by the themes and history that get incorparted into video games, mangas and animes right? Wait till I get to Ise and chunnibyo up KOF for the Orochi theme. If not Yuyu Hakusho for Kyoto(not that it took place in Kyoto but the Kurama and Hiei reference).
Eventually I made to the top, the incline is managable here. For some reason I keep running into a group of American tourists led by their local guide to the top and back down and all the way to the carpark across the road. I was like "Lol! Them again."
There's a cat up top and a sign that says no feed said cat in the area.
A nice bowl of soba with mushroom in it before going down. I realised after I came down that there were some places that I forgot to detour to in my tired state of mind.
Random bug on the way down. I have no idea what it is. Cicada? You know you're in Japan when random spots in town is filled with the sound of cicadas. Note that the sound that cicadas make was also incorporated into animes.
Chair lift! There's a net below but you still need to be careful and not drop your small objects (ie dolls, camera, coin, etc). Getting off one take a bit of doing to avoid a trip back up or down. So take note when you're near the start/end points.
I went to the main road for a look see, I think I was up the mountain for 5 hours or so. Ended up with feet blisters that made me drop my onsen/sento trips. Thank goodness for hotel bathtub and LUSH bath products XD
Lost in Nippori (Technically)
Ghost in the shell vs Digimon challenge
A fair there was a fair, Shop for dolliehs while you're there.
1st Salvo - Itabashi Hanabi
Mt Takao
Slow Day in Tsukiji
Akiba Dolliehs!! Take my money!!!
Ride the bus/tram/train - Oji
Togenuki Jizo in Sugamo
Stalking cats in Yanaka
Ueno Park crow encounter
Slamdunk opening and Gotokuji Maneki neko
Asagaya Tanabata Steet
Tokyo Bay Hanabi in Odaiba