Got up at 4:20 in the morning, took a shower, checked the equipment, then left home. Even I worked until 11 PM on Friday night, I could get up earlyon Saturday morning, if I could go to the mountain. I took the first subway at 5:36 and transfer from Hakata Station to Fukuhoku Yutaka Line, Gotoji Line, Hitahikosan Line, and finally a substitute bus of Hita-hikosan Line to Hikosan station.
Hikosan Station had not been used for two years since the heavy rain in 2017 destroyed the Hitahikosan Line between Soeda and Yoake stations. Currently, JR and the local government were discussing whether to restore the line, or to substitute for the rail bus operation, or to substitute a bus transportation. Though the demand of local residents, JR was not easy to pay to restore the line. The rails were already rusted, and the tracks were full of goldenrod.
It was raining heavily. I put on a raincoat, set a waterproof cover on backpack. Left Hikosan Station at 9:15.
First, headed south on the paved road toward Koishihara town, the point at the continuation of the previous Kyushu Nature Trail trekking. This road had unexpectedly high traffic. In particular, there were many dump trucks, and they splashed water. After 1 km of walk, I could leave from the heavy trafficked road and proceeded to a narrow paved road along the river.
After about 1 km, a sign for Kyushu Nature Trail appeared on the roadside. This point should have the intersection to the Kyushu Nature Trail. According to the sign, I was standing just the right place of the intersection of the Kyushu Nature Trail. I could find the trail from Mt Hikosan, but I could not find the trail toward Koishihara, the next place. After going back and forth for a while, I asked a gentleman standing near the warehouse where the entrance of Kyushu Nature Trail should be there. He answered that the trail was going into his house. The route was just entering his garden and house. This point was the most difficult spot to find the route. Perhaps because here was a private property, the signboard at the entrance to Kyushu Nature Trail could not be set up by local government.
When I asked a man about the situation on the trail, he answered it was devastating due to the heavy rains of last year. As I passed through the garden of the man's house and went into the mountain, fallen trees filled the valley, so I could not find where the trail was. Went over piled up fallen trees, crossed a mountain about 100m high, and I could reach to the other side of the mountain. Here was the Hase village where several houses were there. After another 1km walk, I found a restaurant where a gentleman grilled chicken thighs at the front. It was a restaurant, Haseno Sato. At 11:00, I had lunch here of grilled thigh, dumpling soup and rice balls. Grilled thigh was so crispy and juicy. Dumpling soup had very rich favor. And the rice balls were so nice. You should drop by this restaurant if you pass Hase village. This restaurant opens only on Saturday and Sunday.
After lunch, I proceeded on a paved road for about 4 km and 500 m of mountain path, I came to the spot where I should see the great cedars. This was a place where great old ceder trees, such as Gyojya-sugi, Oh-sugi and Boundary Stone were there.
About 10 minutes walk from here, Koishiwara's Sarayama district where many potteries were there. Some smoke came out of the chimney. Looking at the one pottery shop, the price was relatively easy. Koishiwara pottery ware basically made for household goods. I felt that here was much more affordable than Arita and other famous pottery.
Went further 1 km and arrived at Michinoeki Koishiwara at 12:50. Here again, I saw pottery, ate ice cream, and refilled with drinking water before started to move.
About 2 km from here to Kama Pass, dump truck traffic was very heavy and I felt walking on this road was dangerous. More than half of the passing vehicles were dump trucks loading with stone, gravel, or soil. All these tracks were wearing a red flag of The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. They were carrying materials for the recovery from the heavy rain disaster of two years ago. Even so, there were too many dump trucks.
From Kama Pass, took off the paved road and entered to the mountain path. In the lower area of the mountain, there were a lot of white plastic sticks about 2m high standing on the mountain. It seemed like an innumerable number of javelin spears pierced innumerably into the slopes of the mountain. I just thought it was an installation of the Koishiwara Arts Festival. When approaching, I noticed the stick contained a cedar seedling. This might be a modern forestry technology.
After Kama Pass, mountain path continued. There were some collapses. From 14 km point, forest service road run in parallel with the mountain trail, and the trail was in good condition. There were lumber accumulation flat maintenance sites. These sites might be good for camping. The mountain path was very well maintained and comfortable along the ridge, but the fog gradually became denser. A strong northern wind began to blow. It was cold for me wearing short sleeved T-shirt.
The dense fog made the trail invisible, so I had to follow the white tape attached to trees to indicate the direction of the trail. When I descended on the southern slope of the mountain from 17 km point, following the tape, and went down the steep slope for about 300m, I checked the route by the map. I noticed that I was on the wrong way that lead to the south of Kurikawa. I had to climb up the very steep slope to the ridge. I felt that I should not rely on the white tape, but I should proceed while searching for footprints of trekkers.
Arrived at the top of Mt. Umamiyama, altitude of 977 m, at 16:55. Unfortunately, I could not see anything with dense fog. If there was no fog, the view from the top of Mt. Umamiyama must be wonderful.
Proceeded to find a place for camping before dark. It seemed that it was difficult to set up a tent because the north wind blows strongly along the ridge ahead of Mt. Umamiyama. When I arrived at Utouragoe Pass, a 1.5km point from the top of Mt. Umamiyama, I found this place the wind was slightly weak. I finally decided to set a tent here at 18:00.
October 19th, 2019, Rain to cloudy, 18/13 Celsius, From Hikosan station, Soeda town, to Udouragoe Pass, Kaho city, Distance 21.83 km, Time for walk 7:08, Average speed 3.06 km/h
