Hiking Mount Tatsuwari

For the first time in several years, I went hiking at Mount Tatsuwari in the northern part of Ibaraki Prefecture.

It is a mountain known for its giant rocks and mountain worship, and at the summit, there is Kurosaki Shrine, which enshrines Kurozaka-no-Mikoto.
The hiking trail serves as the approach to Kurosaki Shrine. Since there is no public transportation to the trailhead, it is difficult to reach without a car, but because of that, you can enjoy climbing a quiet mountain with few people.

There is space to park about two cars in front of the first torii gate, but if you proceed along the gravel road next to the gate, there is a larger parking lot.
(Even if you walk from the first torii gate, you will merge into the path to the parking lot.)

I started the hike from the entrance next to the parking lot, where there is a Gose-guruma (prayer wheel).
I leisurely climbed the beautifully maintained, mystical approach surrounded by trees.
It is a single path, so there is no worry of getting lost, and it takes about 2 hours round trip with no difficult sections, making it an easy trail even for beginners.

There are many giant rocks along the approach, and explanatory signs have been installed.

On the way, there is a place where spring water flows, and a pipe has been cleverly set up with cups provided so that you can easily wash your hands, with a sign saying, "There is no water at the shrine's chozuya (water pavilion). Please use this to rinse your mouth and wash your hands."

A little further on, there was also a rest area.
It's helpful to have benches where you can rest your legs.

Although it is covered with a blue tarp and you cannot see inside, a rare charcoal kiln also remains.

I arrived at the Myojin torii gate.

Before and after this torii gate, there is a fork leading to the "Tachiwari-ishi" (Sword-split rock) and "Kurosaki Shrine," but if you head toward Kurosaki Shrine, you will suddenly come out into an open area.
In this plaza, there are the "Shakado," "Kabuto-ishi" (Helmet rock), "Fune-ishi" (Boat rock), and a rest area.

Kurosaki Shrine is right in front.
If you climb these loooooong stairs, you'll be there in no time.
But
these stairs are incredible.

They are long, the angle is steep, and furthermore, the surface of each step is narrow and there are no handrails, so
when I climbed them for the first time, the moment I looked up to see "how many steps are left?", I felt my body float backward, and I was suddenly overcome with fear. I froze a few steps from the top, unable to move, and somehow managed to climb to the end with trembling legs while clinging on.
Even though I wasn't particularly good with heights before, I wasn't afraid of them either (I was fine with towers that had acrylic floors where you could see through to the bottom, or suspension bridges), but from that day on, I became afraid of heights.
Even in places that seem sturdy, I start thinking about the worst-case scenario, like "what if...", and fear arises.

Even though I knew what to expect, it wasn't as bad as last time, but I still felt my legs freeze up this time too.

My husband, who is fine with heights, climbed up easily, and since I have developed a fear, I just feel it's scarier than it actually is; I don't think it's usually such a scary place.

I arrived at Kurosaki Shrine!

After finishing my prayers, I proceeded along the side path, passed the observation deck, and headed to the "Tainai-ishi" (Womb rock) located about 200m down.
This was my first time seeing the "Tainai-ishi."

The reason is that when I came last time, there was a family at the observation deck who were so noisy that I wondered if they could only talk by shouting, so I gave up on my plan to have lunch there and at the Tainai-ishi, and turned back immediately.

I saw the Tainai-ishi and had lunch at the summit with no one else around!

The view from the observation deck and my rice ball.
(After taking the photo, I went down immediately and ate at the foot of the observation deck.)

"Hooooooo... hoke-kyo-ke"
"Okiro (that's what the hoke-kyo sounds like)"

There was nothing but the sound of a bush warbler practicing.

It was the best.

After enjoying the birdsong for a while, I returned along the route I came, and at the fork mentioned earlier, I headed toward the "Tachiwari-ishi" area.
On the return trip, I will descend using a different route than the one I took on the way up.

This is the most well-known of the giant rocks on Mount Tatsuwari.

It is split perfectly in two.

There are also several giant rocks on the return path.

Where it was a dense forest when I came last time, it has now been cleared and turned into a spacious area.
I walk along following the pink tape and the trodden footprints.

After walking along a path like this for a while, I arrived at the final highlight.

Last time there was no water at all and it was only trickling, but this time, although there was a fair amount of water, it was modest, perhaps because it is not a waterfall with a large flow to begin with.

Once you get this far, it is only a little further to the parking lot.
I walked smoothly and finished the descent safely.

On the way back, I stopped by Yamagata Confectionery, a Japanese and Western confectionery shop about 15 km from Mount Tatsuware, to buy some sweets.
Since it was evening, many items were running low, and the cakes were sold out.
All the sweets were delicious, so I would like to try their Western-style confectionery next time.