 Mountains,Valleys and Waterfalls |
Map of Hiroshima (Nihongo) |
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The 1,252-meter-high Fukudagashira mountain is in Hiwa Town which is located in the northeastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, bordering Shimane Prefecture with its north side. The town is surrounded by the 800-1,200-meter Hiba mountain range including this mountain. The name of the town, Hiwa, is said to originate from Hiba mountain where an imperial mausoleum is located and a goddess in Japanese mythology, Izanami no Mikoto, was buried there. From the Edo period (1600-1867) to the early Meij Era (1868-1912), Hiwa was a post town, and this area including neighboring Yokota in Izumo (now Shimane Pref.) prospered as a center of tatara, iron manufacturing ,thanks to mountains in this area which contain plenty of good iron sand. Even now you can see the remains of the tatara iron mills. Mt. Fukudagashira is now rich in Japanese beech trees, but it was bare and a grazing land for cattle at that time as its other name, Kenashi-yama (Hairless mountain) implies, because most trees in the mountain were cut down to use as fuel for the iron production. Unlike neighboring Mt.Hiba and Mt.Azuma, Mt. Fukudagashira was unknown among hikers, because there wasn't any trail there. Three years ago, a good hiking path to the mountaintop was made by the town, complying with enthusiastic hikers' wishes. Now you will be able to enjoy a 1.5-hour ascent hike to the summit which commands a magnificent view of the Chugoku mountains. Like other depopulated villages and towns in mountainous regions, Hiwa Town is promoting tourism to induce many people to visit the town. Every year on the last Sunday of October, Yamabiko Matsuri (Echo Festival) is held there. Many kinds of events are planned such as a log-sawing game, a traditional rice planting performance, and a local specialties' market including a local rice-made sake tasting, a beef cattle roasted whole, and so on. The leaves will be turning beautiful colors at the time. ◆Getting there Go by car, get on the Chugoku expressway
and get off at Shobara; Take Route 432 to
Hiwa. Drive to a road side rest stop named
"Green port Azumaji", and turn
right. Follow the signboard that reads "かさべるで”
which means a lodging place named "Casa
Verd". Ask there how to get toMt. Fukudagashira.
◆Suggested schedule Hiroshima(8:10)===(Chugoku Expressway)===Shobara
Exit===(Rte.432)=== |
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| ◆Note To be safe, especially in winter, keep in mind not go into the mountains alone, and be sure to go with a well-experienced hiker. |
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