Kaimon

I love Google maps. I merely have to type in the destination, in this case the trail head for Mt. Kaimon, and choose the train option, and it shows a multi-part plan. It also indicates which train type to take, the platform number, how many stations to destination, and these stations' names. While you are in any particular segment, the Google maps also shows you your exact location at that particular moment in time. Since few Japanese people speak English, this map feature makes navigating the train system easier.

The map planned a 3 part trip for me which included a walk to Ibusuki station, followed by Japan Rail to Higashi-Kaimon station, then a mile long walk to the trailhead. Google maps also listed many alternate plans. In this case, I could take the 5:58 am train and if I missed that, there was the 6:11am train. To 'carpe diem', I rapidly walked to the station just in time to see the 5:58am train leave.

No worries, I thought, I'll wait 13 minutes and the next train will come along. Watching the map more carefully, I realized that the 6:11 AM train left from another station named Yamakawa, which was 4 km away. If I didn't catch that train, then I would have to wait one and a half hours for the next train.

Now I had 11 minutes to find a taxi, cover the distance of 4 kilometers, get to the Yamakawa station, flash my Japan Rail Pass and get onboard the train to Higashi-Kaimon. As I walked to the curb, miraculously a taxi appeared, the driver drove fast and in 9 minutes + $12, I was at Yamakawa station.

I boarded the train to Higashi-Kaimon which came promptly. There were a lot of school kids on it. The scenery outside was beautiful and showed dense forests, glimpses of the bay, as well as the Mount Kaimon. The bamboo trees were very close to the train tracks and their leaves kept brushing against the train windows.

After getting off the train, I proceeded to walk to the trailhead. Along the way, the paddy fields showed beautiful reflections of the surrounding mountains.

The start of the hike was very wooded.

The trail started with fine volcanic sand with lots of ferns and a canopy of trees. After a mile into it, the trail was composed of golf ball sized scree, which was easy to slip off of. The last 1/3 of the trail was made of big boulders that you had to climb on to finally reach the summit.

It is about 5 miles from the train station to the summit and needs about 2,800 feet of climbing.

Besides the beautiful views all around that you are rewarded with, there is also a nice Torii to relax at.

There was a massive cloud occluding the view, slowly moving and preventing a nice video capture. I waited a while and then gave up taking the perfect video.

While descending, I saw many hikers, all Japanese, on their way up. Each greeted me with a spirited 'Konichiwa'!

The descent was treacherous because of the slippery, mossy boulders and the scree. The trees all round were helpful to hold on to and get leverage.

Finally, I reached the trailhead. By now, I was famished. My early morning faux pas with the Google maps prevented me from buying any snacks due to lack of time. From the trailhead to the train station was another mile that I would have to trudge without food or water.

Now the Google map came to my rescue. It showed a soba noodle place just 5 minutes away and indicated it was open. I walked to the spot and indeed found a nice restaurant.

The soba noodles were delicious. They provided a perfect ending to the adventure.