Believe me, this is probably the best mountain 25K training run in Tokyo. Though there is about 1200m of climbing, you barely feel it. It has long sections of single-track and a fair amount of technical roots and rocks.
The Route
The course is a there-and-back between 武蔵五日市 – musashi itsukaichi shi – Musashi Itsukaichi and 御岳山 – mitakesan – Mt Mitake. I know, a there-and-back sounds boring. This one is a bit different. It is extremely runnable. Along the way you hit the peak of 日の出山 – hinodeyama – Mt Hinode before going to the sacred mountain shrine at Mt Mitake. This trail completely on the Hasetsune course, taking up the last 12 or so kilometers.
Starting from the train station, head west up the road. At the gasoline stand, veer right off the main road. Make your way past the start/finish of the Hasetsune Cup at the Akirunoshi Middle School and town center, and continue west, turning right at the next opportunity.
Check out our Musashshi Itsukaichi Trailhead Guide.
The trail starts as a steep combination of concrete and dirt until you get to 琴平神社 – kotohira jinja – Kotohira Shrine. There is a nice observation deck at the top of this road. At that point the trail branches off to the right. From here on to Mt Hinode is about 10k of rolling hills, slowly increasing in altitude. There are no great views, but the run is so nice that you barely notice that you are climbing.
Mt Hinode
Once at Hinode, there is a series of staircases up to the peek. I have to admit, though this is one of my favorite training runs, the section of wooden stairs just near the top of Mt Hinode is my least favorite man-made feature in all the trails I have run. The steps are both shallow and narrow, making it difficult to gauge whether to take them two at a time or one. Luckily, it is not a long stretch.
From the top of Mt Hinode, there is a nice view over the city. There is a small covered shelter to help you out of the rain or the strong summer sun. To the southwest, on a clear day, you can see an obscured view of the peek of Mt Fuji.
Follow the trail to the west down from the top. Soon after you descend from the peak, you’ll come to a landing where there are toilets and a mountain hut called 東雲山荘 – shinonomesansou (website). Take the trail down and continue on to Mt Mitake.
About 750m down the hill, after some twists and turns, you come upon a wooden torii marking the entry to Mt Mitake.
Mt Mitake
At the top of the hill there is an Z-turn in the route, and then a right turn will get you to the base of the 商店街 – shotengai – business district. A small street with shops on either side where you can buy souvenirs, drinks, and snacks. Most of the establishments also sell noodle dishes and rice bowls, hot and cold coffee, and desserts.
The shrine is at the top of the road. At the base, where the temizuya is on the left, a public toilet facility is around the corner to the right. Up the stairs, you quickly pass through the final torii and move up through the gate. The steps continue to the top, with a variety of memorial plates and statues.
Musashi Mitake Jinja
Mitake, the name meaning something like ‘sacred peak,’ features the 武蔵御嶽神社 – musashi mitake jinja – Musashi Mitake Shrine. The shrine is said to have been founded in 90 B.C. The mountain town of Mitake focuses on the shrine, with many of the buildings supporting related tourism. The shrine continues to be a pilgrimage site.
Besides the long history, with many swords and pieces of armor dedicated to the shrine by samurai throughout the ages stored in the treasure hall, there is also an association with dogs. This is perhaps due to the veneration of 大口真神 – okuchimagami, the wolf deity. It is said that the wolf protector of the legendary Yamato Takeru is enshrined within. At the bottom of the steps as you enter the shrine gate, the 手水舎 – temizuya, water purification station, has a special pool of water for pets.
From the Torii at the base of Mt Hinode, the trail moves gradually up hill over roots and rocks for another 1 kilometer or so. There the trail transitions to road and turns to a steep incline. Up the road one house on the left sports a ninja popcorn machine, great for getting some flavorful sodium during your journey.
After you turn the corner on the stairs and climb the next section of stairs, there is a landing. You can continue straight up the next flight to make your way to the shrine buildings on the top.
If you want to continue further, turn left on the landing. There the trail continues toward 大岳山 – odakesan – Mt Odake on the Hasetsune course. Just around the corner, there is a memorial to 長谷川恒男 – Hasegawa Tsuneyoshi, the man in whose honor the Hasetsune races are run.
The way back is an even nicer run, as it is mostly a gradual downhill. If, however, you are not feeling like doubling back, or you decide to have a beer with your curry rice at one of the shops, there is a cable car down from the mountain to a bus that takes you to Mitake train station.
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Hasetsune Course: Mt Hinode to Itsukaichi Hall