Hiking Options
Hiking routes near our house
If you like to walk or jog around our neighbourhoods, we recommend the following routes.
1) If you simply like to see good sceneries without much walking, the river view from Kamo Bridge (加茂橋) is very rustic and picturesque. There are many seasonal flower spots near the river.
2) If you like to hike and possibly continue your journey to Obara, hike in Fujioka around 1.5hr-2hr to visit Ten Shrine (small shrine surrounded by beautiful plum, momiji, and giant gingko trees), Fujioka castle ruin (vintage point), Osawa Lake (lake hidden in the mountain), Corridor of Fuji Wisteria Flowers (in season during early May), Liquor Shop Misaka (sells local sake and fruits), Kamogaoka High School (bus stop to go to Obara), Fujioka Fulk Museum, and small town of Fujioka (for lunch). In Fujioka, there are many English signs which explain history of each spot.
3) If you like to jog around our neighbourhoods, you can run on No. 355 road along Yahagi River, turn left to No. 358 road (surrounded by forests and rice paddies) and pass by 摺公民館 (Suri Community Center) and turn left to St. Creek Golf Course. This is a 7.5km loop with some ups and downs near golf course and different sceneries on the way. Please be careful with cars passing occasionally.
4) To go to Asuke Old Town, I recommend taking a bus from Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下). If you wake up early, you can simply pay 200 yen to take a school bus at 7:18am with students to go to a small town of Asuke. One of our guests walked 1.5hr (7.5km gradual downhill path) along Yahagi River to go to Mikawa Hirose Station (discontinued old station) and took Oiden Bus to Asuke.
Kamo Bridge
Kamobashi (加茂橋): Great picturesque view from Kamo Bridge. Rustic ambiance.
Ten Shrine (天神社): A small shrine with beautiful surroundings of plum, momiji, and giant gingko trees. There is Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下) bus stop in front of the shrine. Take a small passage next to the shrine to go up to Fujioka Castle Ruin (藤岡城跡).
Shimokawaguchichō, Mido−２９４
Ten Shrine (天神社): A small shrine with beautiful surroundings of plum, momiji, and giant gingko trees. There is Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下) bus stop in front of the shrine. Take a small passage next to the shrine to go up to Fujioka Castle Ruin (藤岡城跡).
Osawa Lake (大沢池): Beautiful lake hidden in the mountain. There are sakura in March, ajisai (hydrangea) in June, and momiji trees (during autumn foliage in Nov). Great photo spot (very non-touristic) for avid photographers to take symmetrical photos of red momiji trees around the sunset. There is an illumination event (free miso soups given to spectators) only for three days in November due to budget constraints.
Lake Shimokawaguchi Osawa
Osawa Lake (大沢池): Beautiful lake hidden in the mountain. There are sakura in March, ajisai (hydrangea) in June, and momiji trees (during autumn foliage in Nov). Great photo spot (very non-touristic) for avid photographers to take symmetrical photos of red momiji trees around the sunset. There is an illumination event (free miso soups given to spectators) only for three days in November due to budget constraints.
Corridor of Fuji Wisteria Flowers (藤の回廊): four types of purple fuji wisteria flowers hanging from the vine along Mitsukuri Elementary School (御作小学校). Full bloom around early May. There is a local festival (Fuji Matsuri) with some bands playing music during the four day weekend in Japanese Golden Week. If you have enough energy, find a small passage to hike up to Shirogane Observatory (城ヶ根山展望台), which used to be a fortress. From the top, hike down to Tentokuji Temple (天徳寺).
藤の回廊
Corridor of Fuji Wisteria Flowers (藤の回廊): four types of purple fuji wisteria flowers hanging from the vine along Mitsukuri Elementary School (御作小学校). Full bloom around early May. There is a local festival (Fuji Matsuri) with some bands playing music during the four day weekend in Japanese Golden Week. If you have enough energy, find a small passage to hike up to Shirogane Observatory (城ヶ根山展望台), which used to be a fortress. From the top, hike down to Tentokuji Temple (天徳寺).
Misakaya (美坂屋): Small liquor shop selling local sake, fruits, and vegetables. Near the liquor shop, there is a house with a beautiful sasanqua tree (御作のサザンカ) which blooms pink flowers in early Dec. Good place to take a rest in the middle of hike toward Kamogaoka High School (加茂ヶ丘高校).
美坂屋
Doai-301-6 MitsukurichōMisakaya (美坂屋): Small liquor shop selling local sake, fruits, and vegetables. Near the liquor shop, there is a house with a beautiful sasanqua tree (御作のサザンカ) which blooms pink flowers in early Dec. Good place to take a rest in the middle of hike toward Kamogaoka High School (加茂ヶ丘高校).
Kamogaoka High School (加茂ヶ丘高校): There is a bus stop which you can take Fujioka Bus to go back to Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下) near our house. Ask the driver to ensure you take the correct bus. From Kamogaoka High School, you can take Oiden Bus to continue your journey to Obara (小原) to see Mitsumata (ミツマタ) in March and Shikizakura (四季桜) in April and November. Obara is also a famous spot to try Japanese traditional washi paper making and painting.
Aichi Kenritsu Kamogaoka High School
Kamogaoka High School (加茂ヶ丘高校): There is a bus stop which you can take Fujioka Bus to go back to Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下) near our house. Ask the driver to ensure you take the correct bus. From Kamogaoka High School, you can take Oiden Bus to continue your journey to Obara (小原) to see Mitsumata (ミツマタ) in March and Shikizakura (四季桜) in April and November. Obara is also a famous spot to try Japanese traditional washi paper making and painting.
Fujioka Fulk Museum (藤岡民俗資料館): Small museum with free entry to learn about local lifestyles of people of Fujioka Town.
Fujiokaminzoku Museum
Inowaki-401 FujiokaiinochōFujioka Fulk Museum (藤岡民俗資料館): Small museum with free entry to learn about local lifestyles of people of Fujioka Town.
Gohanya Kaka (ご飯屋カカ): Open from 11:30am to 2pm (lunch). Closed on Sundays. Family-owned local organic restaurant which serves simple Japanese-style set lunch menu: curry rice, fried chicken, braised fish, and ginger pork stir-fry. No vegetarian option.
ごはん屋カカ
Gohanya Kaka (ご飯屋カカ): Open from 11:30am to 2pm (lunch). Closed on Sundays. Family-owned local organic restaurant which serves simple Japanese-style set lunch menu: curry rice, fried chicken, braised fish, and ginger pork stir-fry. No vegetarian option.
Jujiro (十字路): Aichi-style cafe with signature lunch menu of soupy Ankake spaghetti. Open from 7am to 7pm. Closed on Thursdays.
十字路
Shimogaito-648-1 FujiokaiinochōJujiro (十字路): Aichi-style cafe with signature lunch menu of soupy Ankake spaghetti. Open from 7am to 7pm. Closed on Thursdays.
Fujioka Shisho Bus Stop (藤岡支所バス停): Bus Stop near Fujioka Shisho (Toyota City Hall Fujioka Branch) where you can take Oiden Bus to Obara (小原) and Fujioka Bus (藤岡) to Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下) near our house. Please be sure to ask the driver for the destination to take the correct bus.
藤岡支所(バス停)
Fujioka Shisho Bus Stop (藤岡支所バス停): Bus Stop near Fujioka Shisho (Toyota City Hall Fujioka Branch) where you can take Oiden Bus to Obara (小原) and Fujioka Bus (藤岡) to Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下) near our house. Please be sure to ask the driver for the destination to take the correct bus.
Kawaguchi Yana (川口やな): Ayu (local river fish) restaurant next to the traditional fishing weir called "yana". The history of Kawaguchi Yana dates back as far as 1691. (Open daily until 7pm during May-Oct fishing season). If you take Fujioka Bus, you can get off at Kami Kawaguchi (上川口) near this restaurant on the way back to Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下).
Please read "Restaurant Guide" for my English translation of the menu.
川口やな
Jinde-112 KamikawaguchichōKawaguchi Yana (川口やな): Ayu (local river fish) restaurant next to the traditional fishing weir called "yana". The history of Kawaguchi Yana dates back as far as 1691. (Open daily until 7pm during May-Oct fishing season). If you take Fujioka Bus, you can get off at Kami Kawaguchi (上川口) near this restaurant on the way back to Kamobashi Shimo (加茂橋下).
Please read "Restaurant Guide" for my English translation of the menu.