Walking Mount Nokogiri, the Castle in the Sky Overlooking the Harbor - A Casual Trip to Minamiboso, Kyonan Edition [Recommended Scenic Course]

“Oh, the ferry is leaving Kanaya Port.”

“You're right.”

Beyond the spring haze, the Miura Peninsula of Kanagawa Prefecture can be seen in the distance.
Standing side by side with my wife, we watch the ship set sail toward the Miura Peninsula. The spring breeze feels pleasant on my slightly sweaty neck.

“That's the one we rode yesterday, isn't it?”

◇◇

This is Mount Nokogiri on the Boso Peninsula, a former stone quarry. The abandoned quarry is reminiscent of the Castle in the Sky, Laputa.

Huh?

▼ Another stone quarry?

Yes, the destination for today's Nagu-Nagu Tourist trip is the former stone quarry, Mount Nokogiri trekking. I'm Nagu-Nagu, and I'm a fan of stone quarries. Haha.

About a month ago, I introduced
this spectacular stone quarry viewed from above.

Today's stone quarry is the opposite; we will look up from below. We'll also take it in from the side. Now then, let the Mount Nokogiri trekking begin!

▼ Overall Map and Recommended Parking

The overall map for today's course is here.

For those coming by public transportation,
you can walk from JR Hama-Kanaya Station at the bottom left of the map, or from Kanaya Port. That's right, you can even come by boat. If you live around Yokohama, a boat trip is also recommended.

If you are driving, please be careful as the parking lot is hard to find. You see several 'P' marks on the yellow line in the bottom left of the map, right? Aim for these. You can find them if you are walking, but at driving speed, you will likely drive past them. Drive slowly.

If you plan to use the ropeway on your way back (downhill) (described later), park at the ropeway parking lot from the start.

The recommended course, based on the map above, is 'A→B→E→D→C→A'. For the ascent, take the blue 'Shariki-michi Course', and instead of going all the way to the summit of Mount Nokogiri, view the Laputa Wall and return via the 'Kanto Fureai no Michi' trail.

This way, you can conquer highlights 1 through 10. Let's skip the 11th spot, the famous 'Jigoku Nozoki' (Hell Peek) seen on social media! This is because the pink path is a toll road (Nihon-ji Temple grounds: 700 yen) and it gets crowded with people coming from the ropeway, which is exhausting.

In the first place, don't be fooled by social media photos; 'Jigoku Nozoki' is not as impressive as the photos suggest, considering the walking distance and the fee (plain and simple).

By the way, here is Jigoku Nozoki.
Doesn't it make you want to go just by looking at this?
Whether you believe Nagu-Nagu or go and end up disappointed is up to you.

If you do go to Jigoku Nozoki, you will take the ropeway back. In that case, as explained earlier, it is convenient to park at the ropeway parking lot from the start.

▼ Why Kanaya Port is nearby

By the way, I mentioned earlier that you can walk from the port, but do you know why? That's right. Those of you with a sharp intuition have already figured it out. The cut stones were transported by ship to various parts of Japan. (High-quality stone available + proximity to a port) These are the conditions for a quarry.

The reason the ferry connecting the Miura Peninsula and the Boso Peninsula still exists is thanks to the stone quarries that have been operating since the Edo period. Geography and history are connected. When you reach your 50s, it becomes fun to learn not just about the scenery, but also about the origins and historical connections. And introducing this is what Nagu-Tour is all about.

Alright, let's walk along the yellow path. We'll arrive at point A in no time. There are many signs on this route, so you won't get lost. From here, let's proceed to the 'Shariki-michi' (Stone Carrier's Path) on the left.

Moving right along.
We have entered the Shariki-michi at point B.

This is a place where women played an active role; women (stone carriers) transported the stones cut at the top (quarry). The weight of the stones was a staggering 80kg. They would load three of those 80kg stones onto a cart (wheelbarrow) and bring them down. And they did this three round trips a day—wow!

I wonder how many times those carts passed through here. The ruts remain in the worn-out stone pavement.

It looks something like this.

But I wonder why they call it a "neko-guruma" (cat cart).

Even today, we still use them to carry things, don't we?

Along the way, there are abandoned stones left behind.

Yes, back to the cat topic.

▼ Neko Choba (Cat Quarry)

For some reason, there is a heart mark at the place where stones were quarried, known as Neko Choba. It's a side path, but the view of Tokyo Bay from here is also wonderful, so you should definitely take a detour.

Returning to the main route, the highlights finally begin to appear.

One of my favorite spots on this course is the "Kiritoshi-ato" (remains of the mountain pass).

▼ Kiritoshi-ato

A world like Indiana Jones.

The stone is of better quality deeper inside than on the surface. Therefore, in search of high-quality stone, they dug from top to bottom and further inward. As a result, artificial ponds and walls were created.
Standing by the pond, I look up at the sheer cliffs. It has an intimidating presence that photos cannot capture. The magnitude of human desire created this overwhelming landscape.

From around here, there is no difference in elevation, making it an easy path to walk. And the highlights continue, such as the Fukinuki Cave and the Kannon Cave.

Oh, I apologize for the late mention, but for popular spots, early morning is the key. If you go first thing in the morning, the nearby parking lots are also empty. For this trip, I booked a hotel in front of Kimitsu Station. You can get to the trailhead in about 40 minutes. Let's go around while there are few people.

▼ Rock Stage

This is also one of my favorite places.

This was the last quarry on Mt. Nokogiri, where stone was extracted until 1985, and traces of mechanization still remain. It's a world like Laputa.
It is also a recommended spot for fans of ruins.

At 10 o'clock, the morning sun finally peeked out from over the cliff.

It was the dawn of the Rock Stage, which had been in the shade.

The ruins slowly began to wake up.

Places that once flourished are lonely and seem to be appealing to something. As I gaze at the machines and listen vaguely to their appeal, for some reason, my heart feels at peace.

I walked slowly through the stone stage and took a deep breath.

◇◇

Alright, that's the end of the introduction to Mt. Nokogiri.
The trip to Minamiboso continues!

ー Next Episode Preview ー

The Devil's Washboard in Miyazaki?
No, no, that's not it. We have one in Minamiboso too.

The next episode is also packed with highlights, so look forward to it!

( To be continued... )

If you are also interested in the island's quarry, click here