Brompton snow ride in Mt. Hakkoda, Aomori prifecture.

Brompton and I went out for a snow ride in Mt. Hakkoda. Mt. Hakkoda, situated at the northern end of Japan's main island, is famous for terrible snow storm in winter. 

In order to ride on the snow road, Brompton was equipped with Schwalbe Winter, a pair of 16-inch stud tires.

Arriving at Aomori airport, I hurried up to Sukayu hot spring lodge by car. 

Sukayu is famous for deep snow, usually reaches 3 to 5 meters in winter. Snowfall beyond 1 meter over night is quite common here. Snowfall recorded 538 cm high in one day on Feb. 26, 2013. A good place to experience a snow adventure as well as nice hot spring.

The lodge is a historic hot spring accommodating people for the past 200 years.

Sukayu lodge preserves its historic wooden bath house and bath tab.  Hot spring here is extremely fresh because it directly comes out from the bottom of bath tab. Yes, the bath house is build just on the natural hot spring.

Let's go out for a snow ride! Please watch a movie below.

While road was completely covered with snow, Schwalbe winter tires ensure a comfortable ride.

However, it's too cold. Strong snow storm blew with wind speed of over 10 meters per second.

Due to deep snow, I can't continue to ride any more. I started to push Brompton.

Finally Brompton and I arrived the distination, Hakkoda Hotel. 

Receptionist opened the door to invite me in.

I had a lunch reservation at the main dining.

Wonderful meals awaited me. bon appetit.

Escape The City And Explore

Let's escape the city and explore. Brompton brings you to adventures which you have never experienced.

I post some of my adventures with Brompton, exploring Japanese high mountains and being dipped in wonderful hot springs in the great nature.

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Brompton Peak Hunting and Hot Spring - Mt. Hakuba Norikura 2,469 m
Brompton S2L and I went over a part of the ridge of the Japanese North Alps, the highest mountain range in Japan with those around 2,000 - 3,000 meter peak elevations, to dip in the Renge Onsen, a mountain hot spring with the best panoramic view located in another side of the mountain.

Adventure for your own wild hot spring - Yumata Hot Spring
Brompton and I went to Yumata Onsen, definitely the most secluded hot springs located deep in the Takase Valley.

Mt. Nasu - Beautiful Snow Mountain with Brompton
Brompton and I went for a snow ride to Mt. Nasu. In order to secure the ride on snow-covered road, Brompton was equipped with a pair of 16-inch stud tires.

Kamikochi - Great Old Route Via Tokugo Pass

Brompton and I  traced the Grand Old Route to Kamikochi.

Mount Gongen, A Paradise of Trail Ride - Mt Gongen 1,312 m
Brompton and I climbed Mt. Gongen up to watch over Mt. Fuji with a snow cap.

Let's go to Nakabusa Hot Spring for a snow ride and downhill
I went to Nakabusa Hot Spring for a snow hill climb with Brompton equipped with a pair of 16-inch stud tires.

A hot spring experience deep in the mountain - Akayu Hot Spring
Brompton and I went to Akayu Onsen which is located deep in the Kiyotsu River.

Bromptons went to the best Island hot springs ever in the world
Bromptons went to the best island onsen located in the Shikine-jima Island. The setting of this onsen couldn’t be more dramatic: it’s located in a rocky cleft in the seashore of the tiny island Shikine-jima. The hot spring pools are formed by the seaside rocks all in nature. It only works when the tide is right.

Hot spring experience after a volcanic mount trail ride - Mt. Adatara 1,699 m
Brompton and I went to Kurogane Onsen where the fresh hot spring is gushing out from the ground of Mount Adatara, an active volcano located in Fukushima Prefecture.

Akiyamago, the most secluded mountain village in Japan

Brompton and I went to Akiyamago, one of the most isolated mountain villages in Japan and located deep to the end of the Nakatsugawa Valley.

Ichinokurasawa Gorge in winter with Brompton - the most dangerous cliff for clibming

Yesterday I went to ICHINOKURASAWA for a snow ride with Brompton equipped with Scwalbe Winter, a pair of 16-inch stud tires. 

Situated east of Mt. Tanigawa-dake (1,977 meters), Ichinokurasawa is a rocky tract that sits at a bit less than 2,000 meters above sea level but is a place with steep cliffs, a complex topography, and fierce variations in the changing weather. The cliffs of Ichinokurasawa are among the three most notable rocky formations in Japan and attract Alpine climbers and gorge-climbing enthusiasts from across the country and overseas.

Though the road led to Ichinokurasawa is closed to vehicle due to snow layer exceeding 4 meters and risks of frequent avalanche during winter, climbers can enter the road from the gate at their own risk. Those who want to watch snow-covered Ichinokurasawa Gorge or dare to climb the cliffs to the peak during winter season start from the closed gate to go for about 3.4 km walk to reach there.

I wanted to see beautiful Ichinokurasawa in winter. One of the sites for mountain lovers said that in this season the snow volume around Mt. Tanigawa-dake was still much less than usual year and did not require heavy duty equipment. Hopefully the snow covers just a part of the road for a while.


[data]
route:  Tanigawa Ropeway Station to Ichinokurasawa, Ichinokurasawa to Doai Station 
distance: 8.5 km (3.4 km to Ichinokurasawa)
max. difference of an elevation: 225m
average % of slope: total -0.6% ascent 3.8% descent 4.8%
acquired elevation: ascent 119 m descent 219 m

From Tokyo, you may get on Joetsu Shinkansen to get off at Jomo Kogen Station (1.5 hour) and take a bus bound for Tenjindaira Ropeway Station (about 45 min.). Unfold your Brompton and let's start. 

The 3.4 km way to Ichinokurasawa started like this. Deep snow was beyond my expectation. Brompton and I suffered a lot. Only a good thing was that weather was nice. 

We reached at a half way point. Took a rest for a while.

Then restart. We reached at Machigasawa Gorge.

I met a gentleman who was on his return to the gate. He told that snow was not that heavy compared with usual year. Based on his frequent visits to the area, most of the trees were usually under snow surface during late January and February.

Finally reaching Ichinokurasawa.

Look! Though partly covered with cloud, I understood why this beautiful and noble figures had attracted a lot of climbers and mountain lovers. 

They were the most famous cliffs in Japan on which a lot of climbers challenged and lost their lives.

Based on statistics starting from 1931, accumulated number of victims in Mt. Tanigawadake is 805 as of the end of 2012 and most of them met fatal accidents in Ichinokurasawa during rock climbing. The number of the victims is recorded as the worst in the world in the Guiness Book.

I mourned and prayed for the victims. I was on the way back to the lower bound.

Let's go to Nakabusa Hot Spring for a snow ride and downhill

Yesterday I went to Nakabusa Hot Spring for a snow ride and downhill with Brompton equipped with Scwalbe Winter, a pair of 16-inch stud tires. 

Nakabusa Hot Spring is known as a lodge with an abundant hot spring yield. The lodge has 16 independent hot spring heads and wells, the largest number among hot spring lodges in Japan. Behind the Lodge there was Yakeyama, meaning burning mountain, where geothermal power is great and everyone can steam egg, potato and other food just by burying things. Nakabusa Hot Spring is also famous as one of the bases of trekking and climbing for the North Alps of Japan. The lodge is located at the trail head for Tsubakuro-dake (Mt. Swallow). 

During winter  it completely becomes isolated from outside due to road closure. Those who want to climb Tsubakuro-dake (Mt. Swallow) during winter or who want to experience the hot spring need to start from the closed Miyagi Gate to go for 4-hour walk to reach the trail head or Nakabusa Hot Spring Lodge.

But I have come across a good idea. Why don't use a bike with stud tires instead of walking a distance of 12 km? Though the closed road may covered by snow, Brompton and I can go through it by using Schwalbe Winter Tires with studs.


[data]
route: JR Azumioiwake Station (551m above the sea-level) to Nakabusa Hot Spring (1,462m)
distance: 17.6km 
duration: 3 and half hours
max. difference of an elevation: 910m
average % of slope: total 5.1% ascent 6.5% descent 5.6%
acquired elevation: ascent 952m descent 48m

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zVh_vanqLQwc.kucNwk0f5oF4&usp=sharing

It was a first time use of the Schwalbe Winter 16 inch tires this season. Last year I used them several times and were perfect but I was a bit concerned with the condition of this challenging route. Nakabusa Hot Spring is located at 1,500 meters above the sea level. The last few miles might be snow-covered. 

Early in the morning I arrived in JR Azumioiwake where was the nearest station of Nakabusa Hot Spring though it was still 17 km away to go and about 1,000 meters to ascend.

I unfolded my Brompton and left the station at 7:30 am when rain changed into snow flakes. 

On the way to the hot spring, Brompton and I got through the gate of Ariake Shrine whose god was Mt. Ariake of 2,268 meters. The road to Nakabusa shares the way to Ariake Shrine.

30 minutes later, we were arriving at Miyagi Gate which is closed for cars due to snow during winter. Only hikers and bikes can go.

Brompton and I entered the world of monochrome.

Snow coverage gradually increased as an elevation rose.

The road was completely covered by snow beyond 1,000 meter high. It was too cold to use iPhone.... My iPhone 5S suddenly shut down due to extremely low temperature for its battery when I took it out from my pocket to share a snow road view with my Brompton friends....

While it was too cold for iPhone, I was sweating a lot as the steep hill with more than 10% slope continued. 

Before I knew it, the sun started to shine. The weather report was correct.

However, snow was getting more and more. 

At last Brompton and I were approaching the hot spring.

A little before noon, we reached Nakabusa Hot Spring.

It's time to dip myself into hot spring. I hurried to an open air bath first. Look! In the center, there was a rock-build spout. Because of high temperature over 90 degree centigrade of hot spring, it is necessary to pour it down from the top of the tower to the tub in order to cool down to about 40-43 degree.

It was wonderful experience to look over the mountain and blue sky when bathing.

I noticed that I was thirsty. Let's drink a bottle of S. Pellegrino as usual.

2 pm. It was about time to go down the mountain. People in the lodge gathered to say good bye to Brompton and me. A tiny snowman also made farewell to me. Thanks and see you again!

Brompton and I started downhill. It was already obscured in the Nakabusa Valley because of its deepness. 

Sunset was earlier in this season. Brompton and I needed to hurry but care. The temperature was below zero. A pair of the Schwalbe Winter tires provided excellent grip and control on the icy snow road. Perfect! But I needed to control the speed and must be careful of using brake. 

The beauty of the monochrome color again. Brompton in the world of "Frozen".

Due to the low temperature and snow fall, the Brompton looked like a cake covered with sugar powder.

The road surface was frozen like mirror. I needed to ride carefully even with the Schwalbe Winter.

Continued downhill. I was able to see the end of the Nakabusa Valley from the cleavage. There was sufficient sunlight outside the valley. I still have a couple of time before the sunset.

When I looked up, there was Mt. Ariake, wearing cotton clouds. It was beautiful.

We arrived at the station. Let's go home for dinner.

It was a great ride with the Schwalbe Winter in this season. The performance was perfect even under tough conditions of the hilly road with snow and ice.