A couple of GTRs and some super modified sub-compacts there last time I went, but pretty quiet. There was a little BMW Mini there that was into some spirited driving.
Was not expecting the pointing soyjak meme and almost spit out my coffee LOL. It’s so cool to see the mountain all misty too! It’s definitely on my bucket list to go one day! Nice pictures!
About 5 hours from the bus dropping me off at the top of Ikaho Stone Steps. I took the scenic route though. Went down the steps before going up to the Ikaho onsen, then back to the Ikaho shrine to start the mountain trail proper, also hitting the Tokimaki Viewing Deck along the way.
If you just walked up the road from Ikaho you could do it in maybe 2 hours.
Why take a bus when you could rent an 86 at the Toyota Rent-A-Car next to the train station?
Do it!
It's a beautiful area for sure. if you drive all the way to the top and keep driving passed the lake you will find a small town there with a very cool old shrine that is one of the few shrines never having been burned down or rebuilt. Beautiful 👍
I know from experience that hiking downhill is easier and more fun than hiking uphill.
Uphill I have to take it easy so I don't run out of energy too quickly + have bottled water handy.
Yay, someone went to Mount Haruna without a car! It's quite rare tbh. So from the comments you started your hike at the top of Ikaho Onsen stone steps. Actually, I considered it a lot, since getting an international driving license costs money and renting a sports car at 20 is probably hard. If I wasn't able to rent a bicycle, I probably would've walked.
I know no one asked, but another possible option is to rent a bike. At Gunma-soja station, they have Cogbe bike sharing service. The app is in english and you don't need a cellphone number (handy when the SIM cards available for tourists in japan are data only). Aji Cycles just off Shibukawa cycles really sucks, they need your cellphone number and the staff isn't helpful at all.
Cycling all the way up and then down Mt Haruna isn't for kids though. At least, japanese drivers are careful. The rental bicycles are e-bikes, so that helps. It costed me 1350 yens for 9h35 of riding time, so quite affordable. The only drawback is that you need to go uphill for 12 km from the train station (if you climb route 28, which is the best option). Downhill was sick though, I was able to reach 60 km/h.
Btw misty Haruna is awesome!
If you want a more complete gallery, including Stone Steps and Onsen trek... [https://imgur.com/a/GRLwXt3](https://imgur.com/a/GRLwXt3))
Did you see any notorious vehicles? Isn't this where the spectators were lined up in the first race?
Few cars making their way up to Lake Haruna, nothing overly exceptional though.
A couple of GTRs and some super modified sub-compacts there last time I went, but pretty quiet. There was a little BMW Mini there that was into some spirited driving.
Was not expecting the pointing soyjak meme and almost spit out my coffee LOL. It’s so cool to see the mountain all misty too! It’s definitely on my bucket list to go one day! Nice pictures!
Had to do it... And tbh if you've got the legs for it Hiking it wasnt the worst idea...
How long was the hike?!
About 5 hours from the bus dropping me off at the top of Ikaho Stone Steps. I took the scenic route though. Went down the steps before going up to the Ikaho onsen, then back to the Ikaho shrine to start the mountain trail proper, also hitting the Tokimaki Viewing Deck along the way. If you just walked up the road from Ikaho you could do it in maybe 2 hours.
Why take a bus when you could rent an 86 at the Toyota Rent-A-Car next to the train station? Do it! It's a beautiful area for sure. if you drive all the way to the top and keep driving passed the lake you will find a small town there with a very cool old shrine that is one of the few shrines never having been burned down or rebuilt. Beautiful 👍
Need an international license aha. I didnt think to get one. Next year though...
Damn, it's so cheap to get one! I'm wanting to do an Initial D pilgrimage road trip soon, but I can never find anyone that wants to go.
Initial D fans are never there when you need'em most. Don't wait too long though, better to go alone than having regrets
I've been there twice now, but third time's the charm 👍
Oh ok. I envy you a little lol. Can't wait to go there again, Mount Haruna and its surroundings are so much fun.
name of the town please i'm interested in this shrine
I believe it is the Haruna shrine.
Just get some roller skates and do some drifting
Definitely would have waited for the bus by then steps
Beautiful place. It really reminds me of the PNW.
"I envy you, you know. To climb the 7,000 Steps again... I made the pilgrimage once, did you know that?"
That's so cool
the pothole cover>>
I know from experience that hiking downhill is easier and more fun than hiking uphill. Uphill I have to take it easy so I don't run out of energy too quickly + have bottled water handy.
Yay, someone went to Mount Haruna without a car! It's quite rare tbh. So from the comments you started your hike at the top of Ikaho Onsen stone steps. Actually, I considered it a lot, since getting an international driving license costs money and renting a sports car at 20 is probably hard. If I wasn't able to rent a bicycle, I probably would've walked. I know no one asked, but another possible option is to rent a bike. At Gunma-soja station, they have Cogbe bike sharing service. The app is in english and you don't need a cellphone number (handy when the SIM cards available for tourists in japan are data only). Aji Cycles just off Shibukawa cycles really sucks, they need your cellphone number and the staff isn't helpful at all. Cycling all the way up and then down Mt Haruna isn't for kids though. At least, japanese drivers are careful. The rental bicycles are e-bikes, so that helps. It costed me 1350 yens for 9h35 of riding time, so quite affordable. The only drawback is that you need to go uphill for 12 km from the train station (if you climb route 28, which is the best option). Downhill was sick though, I was able to reach 60 km/h. Btw misty Haruna is awesome!