Always on a quest to improve visitor experience at Oyama Senmaida, I recently created a walking map featuring three of my favorite routes around the area.
The green route, 不動の道 (Fudou no Michi), leads to Oyama Fudouson, a 1300 year old temple and registered cultural property. It’s an uphill ramble along a forested road dotted with houses. The temple is truly worth visiting – a power spot with an eastward view across the Kamogawa valley to the Pacific.
The pink route, 里山ループ (Satoyama Loop), is one of the first walks I took when I moved to the area. It follows the roads edging the little hollow and you’ll see farms, houses, and all sorts of nature. Secret tip: the spur to the Community Center passes by the only vending machine on any of these walks.
The teal route, 富士見の道 (Fujimi no Michi) is a steady climb mostly along paved roads to a mountain that I love so much I named a kitten for it: Futatsuyama. There’s a breathtaking view across the bay and on clear days, Mt Fuji is visible. It’s a good place for a picnic or a meditative art experience. Gankoyama, on the same route, is a rocky outcropping that is fun to climb and also has a gorgeous view.
The QR codes lead to Google Maps walking directions in case you are concerned about getting lost.
There’s really no “short stroll” around here; each of these three is at least an hour. But if you drove all the way to look at the rice terraces, you should plan some time for other activities, too. And there is no better way to appreciate the area than a good country walk.
I have one more walk that isn’t marked on the map. I want to share it with you because it conveniently connects the Satoyama Loop and Fudou no Michi into a 3 km-ish, 45 minute loop.
Why didn’t I put it on the map? It’s the shortest walk, but there is no specific goal and it’s a steep uphill climb, especially on the second leg. I was trying to keep “family walks” in mind and this one would make toddlers cranky and might be difficult for older people who don’t walk a lot. But I like this path a lot as it passes by neighbors’ farms and also has some beautiful views.
Hope to see you walking around the area soon!
