Mount Oyama, Kanagawa, Japan
It takes about 2 hours from Kawasaki Station to the trailhead, so I planned to leave early—but decided to stay a bit longer for the free hotel breakfast. When I arrived, the trail was already busy. The first part was crowded with hikers and visitors heading to Oyama Afuri Shrine. After the shrine, the trail got quieter.
There were lots of steps and steep climbs, and it took a while for my legs to warm up. Many people were moving slowly because of the incline, so I overtook quite a few. At the peak, the tea houses were packed, and all the resting spots were full. I took a quick water break, visited the inner shrine, and chose to descend toward Hinata Yakushi to avoid the crowds.
The trail down had new wooden steps, some parts were muddy, but the panoramic views were stunning. It was less crowded and more enjoyable, though I had to take it slow on some steep sections. I reached Hinata Yakushi with 45 minutes before the next bus. I thought about hiking 5km further to Yakushi Shrine, but ended up just relaxing and waiting for the bus.
Route Detail
Distance: 12.42km from Oyama Cable Bus Stop to Hinata Yakushi Bus Stop
Total elevation gain: 1002m
Time: 3h 34m (total time with breaks 3h 43m)
Difficulty: Challenging
Peak: Mt Oyama 1252m
Transportation & Miscellaneous
Train from Kawasaki Station to Isehara Station ¥750
Bus from Isehara Station to Oyama Cable Bus Stop ¥370
