Tōkaidō Nature Trail

The Nihongo|Tōkaidō Nature Trail|東海自然歩道|Tōkaidō Shizen Hodō is a long distance walkway that traverses 11 prefectures and covers convert|1697|km|mi, running from Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park in Tokyo to Meji no Mori Minō Quasi-National Park in Osaka Prefecture. Covering the entire trail is considered to take 40 to 50 days. [cite web|url=http://www.tokai-walk.jp/about.html|title=東海自然歩道とは|language=Japanese|publisher=東海自然歩道連絡協会|accessdate=2008-09-21]

In 1969, the former Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare (current Minister of the Environment), proposed establishing a long distance hiking trail. In 1970, under the corporation of related local governments, the construction project proceeds, and the construction completes in 1974. Subsequently, the idea of connecting two quasi-national parks gave rise to constructing an array of additional quasi-national parks along the path. Numerous hills, wetlands, and canyons, which had not previously been viewed as tourist spots were designated as qusai-national parks and presently serve as nature preserves.

Points of interest

Tokyo

The first leg of the route goes through the Mount Takao area and offers a nice hiking trip starting at Keiō Line Takaosankō Station and reaching JR Sagamiko Station. Roughly four hours is expected to cover this segment of the walkway.

From the Takaosankō Station, the route climes through slopes of Mount Takao and first reaches the Takaosan Viewing Tower. After Takaoyakuō-ji Temple, the trail connects to the summit, where the Takao Visitor Center awaits. Passing through an aisle of cherry trees, the hiker, next, arrives at Hachiōji Castle. From this point, the path descends to the flood plain of the Sagami River. Crossing Benten Bridge, the walkway leads to Sagami Dam to Sagami Station. [cite web|url=http://www.tokai-walk.jp/course_guide/course1.html|title=1.高尾山付近コース|language=Japanese|publisher=東海自然歩道連絡協会|accessdate=2008-09-21]

Mount Takao

Mount Takao, rising 599 m above sea level, is an excellent place for wild landscapes with a wide variety of plants (1,600 species) and insects (6,000 species). The area offers many hiking trails and view points.

The Takao Visitor Center is located at the summit, dedicated to offering information on the history and environment of the region. At 599 m, the site offers a majestic vista of mountains from Mt. Fuji to Tanzawa. [cite web|url=http://www.tokai-walk.jp/prefecture/tokyo.html|title=県別観光スポット一覧|language=Japanese|publisher=東海自然歩道連絡協会|accessdate=2008-09-21]

Takaoyakuō-ji

Takaoyakuō-ji is a Buddhist temple situated on Mount Takao. Its full name is Takao-san Yakuō-in Yūki-ji. It was built by Gyōki on the command of Emperor Shōmu. The site had formerly been deemed as a holy mountain and attracted many Shūgendōshi, Japanese mountain ascetic hermits practicing the strict doctrine of Shūgendō. The temple was named “yakuō,” for it enshrines Yakushi. The temple offers a glimpse of, Shinbutsu shūgō, the fusion of Buddhism and Shinto, as it contains Shinto style buildings and Torii.

Hachiōji Castle

Hachiōji Castle is yamashiro, a castle built on a mountain. It is situated on Shiro-yama (445m) in Hachiōji, Tokyo. The castle measures roughly 2 km from east to west and 1 km from north to south. The structure made use of the mountain’s complex surfaces of steep ridges and deep valleys and was divided into a few areas. It was first built by Hōjō Ujiteru in 1587. In 1590, the fortress fell when attacked by Maeda Toshiie, Sanada Masayuki, and Uesugi Kagekatsu during the Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s campaign to eliminate the Hōjō clan. Currently, the site features a reconstructed bridge and parts of the main palace, along with kuruwa, stone walls, and moats.

Kanagawa Prefecture

Yamanashi Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture

Shiga Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture

Mie Prefecture

Kyoto Prefecture

Nara Prefecture

Ōsaka Prefecture

External links

*ja icon [http://www.tokai-walk.jp/index.html Tōkaidō Nature Trail Association official website]

References