I've hiked this mountain three times, and each time, the excitement of navigating its knife-edge cliffs never gets old. It's a thrilling experience that always keeps me on my toes, with breathtaking views as the reward for each challenging section.

Trailhead:

• Starting Point: Futagoyama Entrance (Park on the side of the road)

• Bus: Take the Seibu Kanko Bus bound for Ogano Shako/Kurio from Seibu Railway Seibu-Chichibu Station or Chichibu Railway Chichibu Station. Get off at Ogano Yakuba and transfer to the bus bound for Sakamoto. Get off at Sakamoto and walk for around 30 minutes until the area near the Sakamoto Trail Entrance.

Hike Details:

• Distance: Approx. 6 km round trip (full loop covering both summits)

• Duration: 4 to 5 hours

• Incline: Roughly 600 meters of elevation gain

• Difficulty: Moderate – The trail is well-maintained, but there are some steep, rocky sections on both ascents and descents. You will need to scramble in a few areas, so a bit of upper body strength is helpful.

Trail Description:

1. Hike to Matatoge: Follow the signs toward Matatoge, the mid point of the two summits.

2. East Summit: First aim for East Summit, the easier of the two.

3. West Summit: Return to Matatoge to summit West side. Beware not to enter the rock climbing section. I tried climbing this part before and a lot of the rocks are weak and cannot withstand my weight. It is extremely dangerous.

4. Return to Matatoge: Return back to Matatoge and back to the trailhead.

Mountain Climbing: Futagoyama is also a popular rock climbing destination.

https://climbjapan.blogspot.com/2014/08/futagoyama-chuo-ryo-update.html