[Hiking Log] A story about climbing "Chiiwakyo" instead of working out at the gym

Good evening, this is Nonosan.
I usually post articles mainly about JOYSOUND national scoring GP and muscle training, but
this time I decided to change things up a bit and went "mountain climbing (hiking)."

Actually, I am more of amountain-raisedperson.
When I was a child, I used to go to my grandparents' house in the mountains almost every week,
and I grew up closer to mountains than the sea, and forests than the city.
By the way, some famous mountains I have climbed in the past include
Mt. Fuji (Japan's highest)
Mt. Ishizuchi (Western Japan's highest)
Mt. Ibuki (I still remember it being cold)
Mt. Chausu (the moss phlox was beautiful)
and so on.

The place I headed to this time is called "Chiiwakyo" in Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture.
It was buzzing a bit on TikTok and other platforms, so I was curious,
and I decided to take the plunge and go for a day hike instead of working out.

🚗 Early morning departure. Heading to "Chiiwakyo"
I left early in the morning.
I arrived at the local parking lot around 5:30 AM.

Even though it was the weekend, there were only a few cars.
"Wait? This is a famous place, right...?" I thought, feeling a bit uneasy, but I packed my gear and set off.
My belongings were as follows:

• Drink (1.5L)

• Calorie Mate

• 2 towels

• Thin long-sleeved shirt

• Smartphone

• Keys

• Chicken wings bought at an izakaya the day before

I left my change of clothes in the car.

🏞 And so, I entered the mountain. The quality of nature was too high
It takes about 20 minutes on foot from the parking lot to the trailhead.
Here, an unexpected development—No smartphone signal.
I was completely off guard...
"Oh, I didn't tell anyone I was going hiking," I realized, and it gave me a little chill.
※From now on, I will make sure to tell someone before I go climbing.
From there on, it wastruly a dialogue with nature.

A highly transparent river flowed beside me, with beauty rivaling the Shimanto River in Kochi or the Azusa River in Kamikochi.
The temperature was around 25 degrees Celsius, and it felt a bit chilly in short sleeves.
But with the single-minded desire to climb and descend while it was still cool, I pushed forward.

🐜 A full course of bugs, sweat, and rocks
Since it's a mountain, naturally, there are many bugs.
Moreover, I made the critical mistake of forgetting my insect repellent spray...
I tried to manage with body wipes, but they weren't very effective.
On the way, I discovered a mysterious place with a large number of 'stone piles'.
I forgot to take a photo, but it left an impression, so here are some thoughts:

• A meaning similar to Sai no Kawara (an old folktale where deceased children pile up stones)

• Someone piled them up as a guide so people wouldn't get lost

• If they collapse during an earthquake, it serves as a 'sign to descend'

The truth is unknown, but a mysterious atmosphere drifted through the silence.

🧗‍♂️ The second half shifts to full-body exercise mode with 'stepladders'
Around the time I crossed the bridge halfway through,the slope suddenly became steep.There was a series of steps that I couldn't climb without lifting both knees above my navel,
with a backpack on my back, bugs swarming around me, and sweat dripping down.
What surprised me most was—

Fixed 'stepladder' stairs
The angle was steeper than in old traditional houses, and the space to place my feet was narrow.
It was at a level where it would be dangerous if I were to get dizzy,
so I climbed carefully while regulating my breathing.

🧴 Injecting a little 'kindness' with a break & trash collection
I took a breather at the only rest space.

• Drinking tea that is ice-cold

• Wiping off sweat with body wipes

• Replenishing with chicken wings (I want to drink beer...)

• Picking up trash that had been dropped and putting it into a trash bag

I reset my body and mind a little, and set off again.
After crossing several stair zones, I finally arrived at my destination,

'Chichiiwa' (Milk Rock)!

I took a short break and started the descent.

🦵 The descent is subtly tough. Watch your ankles
During the descent,there were several moments where I almost twisted my ankle.

• Muscle fatigue from hiking (especially the thighs above the knees)

• Weight gain (compared to the past)

• Weight of the luggage

• Steep steps

With these conditions piling up, there were several moments that were low-key dangerous.
While cooling off in the river along the way and making use of the rest point mentioned earlier, I managed to return to the parking lot safely.
(At that point, it was full and overflowing)

🕒 Hiking Data | Time, Number of Steps, Consumption

• Time required: About 2 hours (including breaks)

• iPhone Health: 41 floors climbed elevation record

• Amount of sweat: enough to drip from my hair aerobic exercise level

I felt more refreshed all over than on a day I did a normal workout.

🌦 Mountain weather changes. Checking the forecast is a must
By the way, I thoroughly checked the weather forecast before leaving.
Mountain weather is prone to change, so you should definitely not neglect this.

💡 Lessons and insights from this time

• By going without packing too much advance information, the bar wasn't raised and I was able to enjoy it honestly

• Insect repellent spray is something I'll remember to bring next time (lesson for next time)

• Before hiking, it is super important to tell someone you are going hiking

• Forgetting to take photos because I was so absorbed in the hike is a challenge for next time

🧭 Recommended for people like this

• People who like nature

• People who want to do full-body exercise instead of working out

• For those who want to be healed by the highly transparent river and extraordinary scenery

For such people, the Chichiiwa Gorge hiking course is highly recommended.

🌿 Finally,
days spent focusing on muscle training and karaoke are fun, but
sometimes, time spent facing nature like this is also nice. Thank you for reading until the end!

I look forward to your likes, follows, and comments! See you in the next article!🌄