On April 20th, Erik, Roc, Kyejin, and one of our previous colleagues visited Mt. Mitake.

Mount Mitake is a mountain in the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park near Tokyo, Japan. It stands 929 m tall. On the mountain is a Shinto shrine where practices such as Futomani divination take place. From Wikipedia

Full of confidence, we climbed straight from the station to the mountain’s base, skipping the cable car for a more thrilling challenge. It was no walk in the park, but we powered through without a single complaint—fueled by the breathtaking sights of the Musashi Mitake Shrine, the mystical Rock Garden, and the cascading waterfall.

The hike was an exhilarating blast, and we’re already excited about our next outdoor adventure!

1. How was the activity? Score from level 1 (bad) to level 5 (good). Why?

Roc: 5/5

Erik: 5+!! As always it was a lot of fun to hang out with everyone! I’ve never been to Mitake before, so having this opportunity was great!

Kyejin: Definitely 5! It was challenging but fun with good people It also reminded me of hiking to Mt. Mitake with ILL people 6 years ago. That was fun too!

2. How was the scenery/sightseeing there? Score from 1 (bad) to level 5 (good). Why?

Roc: 5/5

Erik: 5!!! It was really nice that Sakuras were still around, flowers smelled so pretty as well. The temple at the top is super beautiful as well.

Kyejin: 5! The shrine surrounded by cherry blossoms was fantastic. The Rock Garden felt surreal, and the waterfall was impressive too.

3. What was the most memorable moment of this trip?

Roc: everything!

Erik: Kyejin Lemon Vitamin Candies! Sakuras! The tiny Lizard And sleeping on the train!

Kyejin: Climbing the rock garden, reaching the summit after a strenuous hike from the waterfall, and hiking with our all-time beloved ex-colleague!

4. How was food? What was your favorite?

Roc: The food was awesome. My fav was Kyejin’s lemon candy!

Erik: The food was delicious!, Kyejin always treats us to the best snacks, but the best thing was the Venison Kare, such a nice surprise

Kyejin: I enjoyed cold 山菜 (mountain vegetable) udon, but my favorite was black sesame dango with miso sauce, yum~

5. Will you recommend this place to others? Score from 1 (No way) to level 5 (Absolutely). Why?

Roc: definitely!

Erik: Yes!!, Mitake-San is a must-see day trip from Tokyo. It was a super fun day, packed with exercise, and because it’s a little bit far removed from Tokyo, the tourist crowds are minimal, so we could relax and spend a nice time without worrying too much!

Kyejin: Yes, there’s a cable car available, making it accessible for everyone. For those seeking a challenge, skip the cable car. You’ll feel incredibly rewarded when you reach the shrine at the top. Want an even bigger challenge? Walk from the station to the mountain like we, true adventurers, did! Yay!

6. Any comment?

Roc: I wanna go again!

Erik: My only comment is that since we decided not to take the cable cart and do it the good old way, it was SO hard!, My muscles are still in pain. But the worst part was the Waterfall!, that’s a trap haha. It says it’s 0,6KM, but it’s soo steep that my heart was pounding by the end of it!

Kyejin: This mountain is more challenging than Mt. Takao. Be sure to bring plenty of chocolate! And if you’re driving, there’s a surprise: you can drive up! But take care, as the roads are very steep.

~ Erik, Roc, Kyejin

P.S. Thank you so much for organizing this amazing trip, Kimi!