April 2026 Hiking Summary | 4 Hikes Featuring Sea of Clouds, Akayashio Azaleas, and Mountains of Prayer

Even on foggy days, you never know until you walk.

In April, I thought many times, "Today is a bust."
Cloudy forecasts, fog, and spring haze.
Yet, every time I walked, I found "scenery that defied expectations" at the end of the trail.

The timing of flowers, reading the weather, choosing the route.
The days when conditions don't align are when the mountains become the most interesting.

This month was a month where I walked both
"mountains I went to for a sure thing" and
"mountains I thought would be a bust but turned out to be a hit."
I walked both types.

I also wrote a little about hiking on foggy days here.
▶ "Going to the mountains on a day without a view | A day when my thoughts cleared in the fog and a word from my son"

■ This month's numbers

Number of hikes: 4
Total distance: 84.8 km
Total cumulative elevation: 7,560 m

Both the number of hikes and the distance were about the same as my monthly average.

However, because of that,
it was a month where I clearly felt the "difference in conditions" in each individual hike.

Rather than the numbers,
it was an April that left me with "what kind of conditions I walked in".

■ The 4 hikes I did this month

1. Mt. Minobu | A surprise sea of clouds on a hike where I was prepared for fog

The weather forecast predicted clouds at low, middle, and high altitudes.
I climbed Mt. Minobu thinking, "It'll probably be foggy today," but only the summit was above the clouds.

Being able to face the ridgeline of the Southern Alps on the deserted summit for just a few minutes
made for a more than satisfying day.

The weeping cherry trees were past their peak.
The atmosphere of Kuon-ji Temple in the drizzle was also something unique to a cloudy day.

Distance: 13.2 km
Cumulative elevation: 1,028 m

▶ Detailed article: [Mt. Minobu | 13km loop from the temple town]

2. Mt. Myojin (Mitsuse) + 4 surrounding peaks | With ladders, chains, and Akayashio azaleas

Seen from afar, it's a beautiful triangle.
Once you start climbing, that impression changes completely.

A day spent crossing Mt. Myojin, which has continuous steep climbs with ladders and chains,
connecting to the faint trails of Mt. Shiraiwa and Mt. Oboro-iwa, and walking all the way to Mt. Goten and Mt. Furado.

Celebrating the completion of the Misakubo 100 Mountains at the summit became a memorable part of this hike.
Mid-April, before the leeches become active, is the best time to walk in this mountain area.

Distance: Approx. 20km (total)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: Approx. 2,200m

▶ Detailed Article: [Myojin-san, Goten-yama, and Kodo-yama]

▶ Record of Completing the Misakubo 100 Mountains: [[Southern Alps Deep South] Crossing the Core to Otsu-yama]

③ Iwatake-yama to Sobatsubu-yama 32km Traverse | A Great Year for Akayashio Azaleas

This year's Akayashio azaleas bloomed in a way that was particularly impressive even compared to the last few years.

A long traverse connecting the Takatsuka-yama to Mitsuai-yama section for the first time.
Unclear trails, steep climbs, and long ups and downs—
After a "hike of judgment" typical of the Deep South,
the full-bloom pink flowers and the rewarding ridge line left a lasting impression.

Distance: 32.8km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 2,352m

▶ Detailed Article: [Iwatake-yama to Sobatsubu-yama 32km Traverse]

▶ Blooming Report: [Akayashio Azaleas in the Deep South are in Full Bloom]

④ Shichimen-zan | A Mountain Walked Amidst the Sounds of Prayer

The hike coincided with the annual day of ascetic training.
I walked while the voices of pilgrims in white robes chanting sutras echoed through the mountains.

It was not a hike to see the scenery, but rather a time that felt directed inward.
The framed view of Mt. Fuji from Keishin-in appeared only for a brief moment through a break in the clouds.

Distance: 18.6km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1,956m

▶ Detailed Article: [Shichimen-zan | Omotesando - Keishin-in - Kibou-ho 18.6km]

■ April Seasonal Notes | For Reference Next Year

[Flowers]

• Akayashio Azaleas: Peak in the Deep South is mid-April. This year, the flowering was particularly good, making it a standout year. It is best to anticipate a one-week variance in either direction for typical years.

• Mitsuba-tsutsuji and Hikage-tsutsuji: Best viewing around Myojin-san is mid-April.

• Mitsumata: Blooming around Minobu-san in early April.

• Weeping Cherry Tree (Kuon-ji Temple): Late stage in early April. In early years, it starts blooming from the end of March.

[Leeches]

• Almost no issues until mid-April.

• Signs of activity starting from late April. Countermeasures are essential from May onwards in the Okumikawa and Shin-nanbu areas.

[Access & Parking]

• Mt. Minobu, Nakamachi Parking Lot: Tends to get full during cherry blossom season. Early morning arrival is recommended.

• Mt. Shichimen, Omotesando Entrance: Full by 6:00 AM. Be especially careful on days of religious training.

• National Route 362: Some detours in place (as of April 2026).

[Weather Trends]

• This is a season when low mountains and satoyama areas are prone to fog. However, there are cases where a sea of clouds forms near the summit, so it cannot be dismissed as a total loss.

• There are many days when distant views are obscured by spring haze. Keep the mindset that it's a lucky bonus if you can see Mt. Fuji or the Southern Alps.

■ Monthly Review

April was a month where I felt,
"The conditions cannot be fully predicted, but they never turn out to be a complete failure."

・Even on cloudy days, the sky can clear up.
・Even in fog, it can open up for a moment.
・Flowers can have a great year depending on the timing.

It is not determined solely by forecasts or numbers.

Whether it was a day I went for a sure win, or a day I thought I had missed out,
looking back, they were all "proper wins" in their own way.

Forecasts may be wrong.
But the mountains never are.

April was that kind of month.

■ For First-Time Visitors

I write hiking records focused on mountains in Shizuoka, with a theme of conditions and decision-making.
I record not just the results, but also "how I made those decisions."

I have compiled my past hikes and mountain completion records here.

▶ Read my introduction article
Self-Introduction | For First-Time Visitors

▶ Click here for last month's summary
March 2026 Hiking Summary | From Retreat to Completion. 5 Hiking Records of Completing the Misakubo 100 Mountains

May is leech season. Even so, there are mountain areas I still want to hike.
I will record how I decide to proceed.

Beyond this milestone, one mountain at a time.

Click here for my past hiking records
▶ Magazine: "One Mountain at a Time, Hiking Records"

I hike every weekend, focusing mainly on the mountains of Shizuoka.
I would be happy if you followed me.

Until next time, with a record of another mountain.