Mt.Hachimen Crag! How to get there and accommodation!

A climbing bum friend visited me!

A climber friend has visited me so I was on overnight climbing trips last week. We've gone to Hyugami crag, the biggest crag in Kyusyu, also the Mt.Hachimen crag, the smaller but nice crag with nice long routes in the northern Kyusyu island... it was a fun time! 

The Mt.Hachimen has a very easy access from Fukuoka, the biggest city in Kyusyu, also, the bolt situation is much better than Hyugami crag so I will write beta here for the English speaking visitor's convenience... 

On Mt.Hachimen 

Mt.Hachimen is a hiker's mountain and also religious mountain. One of my English speaking friend whom I took to the temple on the foot of this mountain was so impressed by religious tradition here. There are Jingo ji temple and Yayama Shrine in this mountain and the mountain it self is considered god itself. 

The Access

You can use JR train from JR Hakata station, the cost is 2800 yen one way. Get off at Nakatsu city station at Oita prefecture. Oita prefecture has so many other destination such as Beppu and Yufuin, those are the very famous tourist spot. 

At Nakatsu station, you can get on a bus to goto Mt.Hachimen or take a cab. It is about 15 min car ride.  There are buses only 3 times a day, so check the time schedule here first or use a cab.

https://www.navitime.co.jp/diagram/bus/00254674/00050263/0/

The bus takes you to Peace memorial park(where US aircraft had fallen while WWII) in the Mt.Hachimen... get off the last stop or if you are staying over night there it will take you to your accommodation... there are two choices, Hachimen sansou, and Kogane onsen sansou.

The location of the mt.Hachimen is here. 

 

Accommodation

There is no tent site. Two choices. You can stay at;

Hachimen  Sanso　

　　https://comhits2014.wixsite.com/hachimensanso

　　https://nakatsuyaba.com/?introduce=hachimenzansou

or 

Kogane Onsen Sanso

　　https://koganesansou.com/

Kogane Onsen Sanso is a high class Ryokan(Japanese style inn) so you can experience Japanese style retreat, and the Hachimen sanso is more economical, often kid's soccer team stays for a long term for training. 

From the both place you can walk to the crag but if you have a car, the crag is only short distance of walk from the road, max.15min. 

 This is a dinner at Kogane Sanso.

The accommodation fee for the Hachimen Sanso is 1520 yen per person, or per room 5090 yen/up to 6 people to 10180 yen/up to20 people, so ask for the tourist office to give you assistance in Japanese.  There is a tourist desk in JR Nakatsu station, or call here 0979-23-4511, or write here(https://nakatsuyaba.com/?page_id=928)

The latest leaflet says, the dinner is 1060 yen, and breakfast is 690 yen. Public bath is only 320 yen(10:00 to 16:00). 

Approach to the crag

Mt. Hachimen has 3 lead climbing area, and some boulders. 

The climbing guide book for this crag is the famous "Nihon Hyaku Iwaba(Japan 100 crags) " and the details can be seen at the climbing-net.  You need to make your own account to view the topo guide in this net.

https://www.climbing-net.com/iwaba_detail/%E5%85%AB%E9%9D%A2%E5%B1%B1/

Upper area

The entrance to the Jyoubu area(Upper area) is the mark "L" in this photo. 

http://www14.plala.or.jp/ja6dbs/shinrin/hachimenzan/hachimenzan3.html  

Within 5 min or so, you will see the off-trail, climbers foot trace, in your right side. If you go to No1 look out, you are gone too far... Be careful when walking down to the cliff, it has 3 roped sections since it is very steep. Non-hiker might get injured... 

Middle area

The Chubu area(Middle area) entrance is the mark "S" and you will see climbers foot trace on your left. If you are visiting crag often, you will not miss... if you are not used to climber's trail, you might end up just staying on hikers trail, which goes around the pound, which is also a nice walk. You have to go down the cliff, but the entrance is pretty obvious. The middle area is nicer and bigger than the upper area. 

Lower area

Skip the Kabu area(lower area) since the bolts and anchor situation is bad. It is not considered safe. 

My day for example;

I have gone to the Chubu Area at first and had climbed Nanatsuno ko 5.10a. 

Then went to the Jobu Area, I did Cappuchino 5.9 and Koino takinobori also, a long 5.9(easier).

Nanatuno ko 5.10a 

                                           City line 5.10c

The harder City line 5.10c is also recommended. 

The popular routes has better bolts and anchors but other than that, some bolts are still cut anchors, so do you observation at first and climb safely! 

Sample photo: 

Note: 

Never climb the Ishibutai Boulder. It is banned. 

                                    Capucchino 5.9

The other You tube video

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%E5%85%AB%E9%9D%A2%E5%B1%B1&pbjreload=102

 

Gomataki fire celemony @ Jingo ji @Mt. Hachimen

My new neighborhood friend Nikki and I went to Gomataki fire Celemony in Jingoji Temple.

It was very interesting trip!

■　Jingo Ji temple

Jingo ji temple was a branch temple of Koyasan temple, a headquator of Shingon Budhist temple.

So it is very good opportunity to experience authentic Buddhist rituals.

Goma meant "homa" in sanskrit.
　https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%AD%B7%E6%91%A9
Jingoji temple ＨＰ　http://www8.plala.or.jp/zingozi/

They provide all kinds of Shingon Buddhist training including Takigyou, that is, standing in a water fall.

They gave us a souvenir, even though we had only spent 10 yen for a candle and 50 yen for incense.

Somebody must have told about us beforehand since they seem to know we ware coming...

The ceremony was very interesting to me too, and I was surprised that still local people keep their religious habit.

The crag in the Mt. Hachimen

Afterward, we had a lunch at nearby Soba noodle place in front of the Jingo ji, them met with a local and we all headed for the cragging area.

The trail entrance to cragging area is usually hid so normal hikers does not stray into the crag. Most regular hikers have no map reading skills and they know any better than just following the other people... which often end up with accident.

So usually climbers do not make our trails obvious. This time, I was with them so I can tell what is climber's trail is like. You should be able to walk a vague trace , road-less road by finding a route by yourself, if you are a climber, because that is climber's responsibility to come back from wilderness without any other's assistance.

So I took two of them to get down to climbing area and it seemed like it was a bit adventure for them! Good thing!

The topo guide is here.

https://www.climbing-net.com/general/%e5%85%ab%e9%9d%a2%e5%b1%b1/

So now, I am a one step forward connecting the locals and climbers.

■　Sleeping in a temple

One of my friend who are doing free-school, offered us to sleep in a temple. I kind of expected it is just a roof over our head... we have a lot of temples that are more
or less abandoned... spooky places.

But it was actually a large old Japanese house, with Buddhist shrine, so it was much better than I expected. I deeply appreciated that.

My friend who are new to Japan was so excited too. It was a very rare experience even for me who live in Japan for more than 40 years!!

■　Mt. Hossyou in Kuju Mountain Range and Ukenokuchi Onsen(hot spring)

From the top of Mt. Hossyo

My friend seemed a bit sleepy to get up early, but next day, the weather forecast said it would rain in the afternoon, so I wanted to go early to the hiking, since the hiking was mostly over the forest line... you don't want thunderstorm where there is nothing higher than yourself!

So we just grabbed out stuff, headed for the mountain and it was just in time, to start and finish the hiking! Very right amount of walk of 3 hours, hike up and down and appreciating the views...

Hossyo, means "star" and "birth".  The trails starts from Makinoto Touge pass and I recommend this trail because it can give you a big picture of what is like Kujyu mountain range. You can also view Aso mountain range in far distance.

Guiding this mountain was my assignment when I took a qualification on snow mountain guide from Japanese mountain associations, which I passed, even thought I decided not to take the licence.

After that, we headed for hot spring, and I was a bit worried for my new friend who have never done Japanese style bathing before, might have a difficulty but the choice of the spa was so good, that the water hid our body so we don't need to feel awkward at all, it was soooo peaceful and serene... I was so glad I could show my new friend what authentic Onsen is like.

This spa stared at 1728!!!

https://www.town.kokonoe.oita.jp/docs/2018020100011/#kannojigoku
https://onsen.unknownjapan.co.jp/article/2016/10/28/123


■　No traffic jam! Miracle!

Taiyaki

I wanted to stay longer but the weather forecast was so bad and in Kyusyu, when it's rain, rains!! It's a serious hazard.

So I wanted to get out and go back quickly. But actually it was OK, miraculously, there were no traffic jam!! Took us much shorter than usual. Usually it takes much longer to get back to Fukuoka city, but this day, not at all.

We stopped at the parking lot and had a curry filled Taiyaki, which my friend treated for me!

■ These are other guests from abroad I took  

Stephan

https://allnevery.blogspot.com/search?q=%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3

Jiro and Adrian

https://allnevery.blogspot.com/2019/06/blog-post_87.html

A young men from Russia 

https://allnevery.blogspot.com/2019/08/blog-post_29.html

My first time in Mt. Hachimen 

https://allnevery.blogspot.com/2018/09/blog-post_86.html

Climbing in Laos 

https://allnevery.blogspot.com/2016/11/gch_28.html

My friends report on this trip

ーーーーーーーーーーーーー

This weekend was filled with adventure, traditions, history, and some great hiking.

Kinny and I took a road trip to a Jingo ji Buddhist Temple in the food of Mt.Hachimen (about 2 hours drive away) to watch a Gomataki fire ceremony. The ceremony involves burning wooden sticks with prayers written on them. The fire symbolizes the wisdom of Buddha, burning away the roots of suffering. There was a lot of chanting, and it was very meditative.

Then we hiked a bit around a small mountain called Mt. Hachimen, with some very steep descent into a valley, which required using ropes to climb down the hill.

We spent the night "camping" in an ancient temple that is currently being renovated, in the nearby town of Yabakei (thanks to a friend of Kinny's who is over seeing the temple). This was by far the most amazing part of the weekend. The temple was almost completely empty, expect for a shrine set up in the main room. I couldn't stop marveling at the architecture, and the vastness of the open space of the main rooms. It was also set among beautiful countryside farms, so the sounds of a nearby water fall and nighttime wildlife filled the house. I haven't felt that at peace in a long time.

In the morning we headed out to the Kuju mountain range, which is located in the central part of Kyushu, to hike Mt. Hosshosan. The views were stunning and it took us around 3 hours. We rewarded ourselves afterwards by visiting a natural hot spring Onsen, in which we happened to be the only people there, and got the whole baths to ourselves!

Tl;dr it was a great weekend.