Tokai Nature Trail - An Around Hike. Sept-Nov 2024.

 14 Nov Map 36: Osaka Hokusetsu Cemetery viewpoint (tent) -> Prince kaisei tomb 開成皇子 墓 -> minoh visitors center / train to hyogo prefecture (a futon in my brother's spare room) Well after yesterday's walk I am only left with 3.8km to the minoh visitors center and the end of the Tokai nature trail. I then have an 8km walk through the minoh valley to the minoh train station. I definitely have mixed feelings about ending this walk, on the one hand I will return to society and my normal life and on the other hand I will return to society and my normal life. There are pros and cons of each, but I will miss the simplicity of life on the trail and the beauty of the Japanese countryside (I won't miss the humidity or limited access to a hot shower). Took my time packing up this morning, had one last cuppa overlooking the impressive Osaka hokusetsu cemetery while the sun rose. Also took my time on the trail, taking 2 hrs to cover the 3.8km. And then just like that I was done....

 Unfortunately I've lost all photos that weren't uploaded to the cloud so this entry is likely to stay blank. (if you've got photos to upload this is your reminder to do so now!) 11 Nov 12 nov  13 nov Hostel -> 中腹展望台 setssukyo gorge park (tent) -> Osaka Hokusetsu Cemetery viewpoint (tent)

 10 nov Hinode-inari shrine (tent) -> hostel And just like that I was suddenly thrust into the tourist crowds of Kyoto. The Arashiyama Momiji Festival had been on during the day, coupled with it being autumn and a weekend there were tourist everywhere, with the crowds being shoulder to shoulder at some points. It was very strange to suddenly be in jostling, loud (and not to mention clean and backpack-less) throngs of people, hearing snippets of conversations I could understand. It was quite overwhelming walking though the streets to the hostel but also a welcome change to the weeks of silence I'd become accustomed to.

9 nov  map 33: (tent) ohara observation park  -> ebumi temple -> Kurama -> Kibuneguchi -> Ninose -> Hinode-inari shrine (tent) clear sunny so setting my tent up next to the only cigerette ashtray bollard/post in the park may not have been the smartest place for an undisturbed night. at 9:30pm some locals got together for a smoke and a chat, luckily they didnt stay more than an hour out in the cold (autumn is definatley here now) - allowing me to still get my beauty sleep in. I walked less than 1km along the kyoto prefectural route 61, a reasonably busy road that heads north from kyoto through the kita ward, but managed to see 2 different cars just parked on the side of the road. one of them didnt appear to have anyone inside, while the other had a ?highschool girl practicing the flute inside - it was all a bit strange as there didnt seem to be any tracks or roads to go to from the road. route 61 was the last of the more rural areas for the day and walking it wo...