Mt. Inukurayama (1408m)

Just to get my feet moving. And pigs can fly. But having my full luggage with me enables me to go up the mountain with my full gear.
Even so the chairlift is running the whole trek up and down the mountain is by foot. The first part a little bit steeper with some stairs and then up the grassy incline. After the end of the first lift a few workers are mowing the long grass. 
Somehow I manage to pass by right as they get ready for their break and a short “Konnichiwa” leads to my pockets being filled with little treats by the two closest workers and a few words of conversation. After a few squirts of some peppermint concoction against the horseflies on my wrists and neck, I am off again.

The way is relatively dry, only a few spots still slippery. The views are breathtaking and the sun behind some clouds. With the temperature a bit more humane after yesterday’s shower, this is more or less the ideal hiking weather. Add to that that most of the way is in the shadow of some trees to make this an easy path.
Remembering to turn around every so often, I can enjoy the views as well.
If the horseflies did not try to bite me every so often it would almost be relaxing. And in what felt like a short while (and was 1.5 h anyway), I reached the lift terminus.

The next “viewpoint” smelled a bit. And you knew what will be able to see before you could see it. The rotten eggs indicated where the hot water for the onsen originated. Being quite afew meters down and just having the utilitarian cap for the usage, the head was not very scenic.

After a few hundred more meters the top of Inukurayama was reached.
There a strange black stone waited for us. Hot to the touch and very metallic sounding with some etchings. The round white stone beneath the cap a lot cooler.
After circumventing the summit the way led back down. 2 and a half hours are not really the recommended time for the ascend and better be back home early than summitting the next mountain and coming back at night.

As easy as the way up seemed to be, as hard was the way back down on my knees. And I needed to check the quality of the floor with my trousers at least once of course.
The brush cutters were still in full swing when we passed them the second time late noon.

After some crushed ice with sirup on top to cool down, it was onsen time again to rest the tired bones. – The sunburn I have gotten myself on the back of my hands was not too happy about that, unfortunately.

Then a bit of rest on the tatami mats in preparation for dinner. The buffet needed to be checked.
The tea water was from a special cast iron tea pot created in the area.