It’s been sunny but cool. Great weather for hiking. There were scrambled eggs along with the seaweed this morning and no fish with heads on, an improvement. Ready for the day hike, Kate led us off on a 14.4km/9mi round trip hike up to Tokugo Pass. There are quite a few other options for day hikes. If you are interested in very difficult, head up the valley from Takusawa towards Yokoo and turn right up the mountain (looked like a cliff to me) along a ridge line to Cho Ga-Dake. Cho Ga-Dake would never in a million years be my kind of hike.

It was back along the level graded path from yesterday towards Myojin before turning off for Tokugo Pass, one an old main route linking Matsumoto and Kamikochi. The graded path became steeper and made its way through the heavily wooded mountainside. The leaves were changing a little late this year and probably would have been at their peak in another 10 days. But the Oaks, Beeches and Maples were still colorful against the bare peaks and grey scree.

Sheila and fall colors in the Kita Alps of Japan

Kita Alps topographic map section, Japan
Across a few log bridges with Kate assisting Mary… I hope I can still hike like she did when I’m 77 years old…

Kate and Mary crossing logs on a hike up to Tokugo Pass, Japan 

the wonderful and fluent in Japanese, guide Kate
At last the top and a picnic table at the summit. Time for lunch, snarfed down two bowls of Ramen, a Japanese dish of noodles in a broth, and whatever else we could scrounge up.

tasty and always filling Ramen noodles at the top of Tokugo Pass, Japan 

lunch al fresco at Tokugo Pass, Japan
Back down the same way to Tokusawa, boots off…

it feels so good to take off boots after hiking in Japan
…and that ofuro felt great! Tomorrow, the push up to Karasawa for two nights and no more baths until the return back down.