Hasetsune Course: Daigomaru to Mt Mikuni

Two Yama no Kami, Many Maki michi, and two Marus

Distance	3.6K
Elevation Gain	297m
Elevation Drop	202m

At about 15K into the course, 醍醐丸 – Daigomaru is a good place to take a break and move stuff around in your pack. There are some benches in the small area that makes up the peak. To the left is the trail down to 和田峠 – Wada Pass. The Hasetsune course continues to the right with some short grass lining a soft single track. After about 10m, a left turn sends you down a staircase.

Two Yama no Kami

Within the first 1200 meters after passing Daigomaru, there are two trail junctures, both of which referred to as 山ノ神 – Yama no Kami on maps.

The first Yama no Kami is at a juncture with presents a maki michi around 大蔵里山 – Mt Osori. The course takes the maki michi.

A little less than 1K further along, you pass the second Yama no Kami. Here, the ridge meets a trail coming up from the 神奈川県 – Kanagawa side. This feeder trail starts on an access road from Rt 521. There is a small shrine on the path about 300m from 521 called 山神社 – Yama Shrine. This is reminiscent of 今熊神社 – Imakuma Shrine towards the start, with the shrine at the base of the mountain and another object of worship at the top.

What is 山ノ神Yama no Kami?

The Mountain God, the God of the Mountains, or the God in the Mountain. There are two types of Yama no Kami in the Shinto pantheon. One is a deity who resides in the mountains, the spirit of the mountain, protecting it and the creatures in it. This one is revered by hunters, woodcutters and charcoal burners. The other is worshiped by farming communities situated near mountains. This yama no kami descends the mountain during growing season and appears at 田の神 – ta no kami – the god of the fields.

The last yama no kami would of course be the truly exceptional runners of the brutal 5th stage of the Hakeno Ekiden.

Extended Climb

Soon after you pass the second Yama no Kami, you begin a relatively constant climb over then next 1km. The ascent begins just under 800m and goes up to the first point in the course flirting with 1000m.

After you crest the climb, you run another 100 meters further along and you reach a sharp left turn with a few benches. This area is 連行峰 – rengyoho – the Rengyo peaks also referred to as 連行山 – rengyosan – Mt Rengyo, the highest part of which is registered at 1016m above sea level.

More Maki Michi

With about 600 meters left, you reach a fork. To the right is the trail up to the peak of 茅丸 – Kayamaru, to the left is a maki michi. The peak of Kayamaru would be a 20m ascent. The Hasetsune trail marker points you along the maki michi.

You get to 三国山 – Mt Mikuni by also taking the maki michi around 生藤山Mt Shoto. The name 三国 – mikuni implies three(三) countries(国). It is in fact the joining point for three prefectures, Kanagawa, 東京都 – Tokyo, and 山梨県 – Yamanashi. From Mt Mikuni to 三頭山 – Mt Mito, the municipalities to the left of the 笹尾根 – Sasa Ridge are in Yamanashi Prefecture

Two Marus?

There are a few ways in the Japanese language to refer to mountain peaks. The most often used is 山 – yama. When added to the end of a mountain name, it can be pronounced san or zan. Another is 岳 – take or dake, often used for remote, rugged peaks. A third is 峰 – mine. This one, when added to the end of a name can also be pronounced ho, and has a nuance of a set of peaks.

Yet another is 丸 – maru, which is relatively rare. Maru means ’round’ in everyday Japanese. This section of the course starts on Daigomaru, and passes Kayamaru just before reaching the end at Mt Mikuni.

Escape routes

At the second yama no kami, you can descend to the no 08 bus to 藤野駅Fujino station
At Mt Mikuni, you can descend to the Yamanashi side to a bus to 上野原駅Uenohara station