140915 Azumayama (吾妻小富士"아즈마 코후지" 1,705m)

Mountain: Azuma-Kofuji (吾妻小富士　1705m)

Date: Sep. 15, 2015 (Mon) fine

Access to the entrance: JR Ofuna 6:50→Tokyo 7:44 Tohoku Shinkansen “Yamabiko”→Fukushima 9:50/10:00 →Bandai Azuma Skyline→Jodo Daira 11:30

Hiking Route: Jodo Daira – Ridge – Top of Azuma-Kofuji - Walking around the crater - Jodo Daira

I took a JR train at 6:40 at Ofuna and changed trains to “Yamabiko” of Tohoku Shinkansen leaving Tokyo at 7:44.

[Tohoku Shinkansen "Yamabiko" 東北新幹線「やまびこ」、도호쿠 신칸센 "야마 비코"]

I arrived at Fukushima at 9:39 and took a bus leaving Nishiguchi at 10 am. I should have taken the same bus leaving Higashiguchi at 9:50, because it had been almost full when I took it at Nishiguchi.

[A view point "Kunimidai"「国見台」バス停、"쿠니미다이"버스 정류장]

[A view from the bus stop, 国見台からの展望、쿠니미다이라에서의 전망]

The number of the buses going to Jodo Daira was only 2 times a day during this season. So, we must be careful about the schedule.

[Torikodaira Bus Stop, 鳥子平バス停、토리코다이라 버스 정류장]

The bus was taking all passengers to Jodo Daira through Bandai Azuma Skyline (pay road.) It stopped at several view points, but we were not allowed to get off the bus. So, it is important to get a window seat.

Therefore, the bus stopped at several hot spring resorts and arrived at Jodo Daira at 11:30. The same bus was to leave 75 minutes later, so I had only 75 minutes to climb Mt. Azuma.

Mt. Azuma is a volcano shaping a perfect conic shape, just like Mt. Fuji. So the bus took us to the 8th station of this mountain. The altitude of Jodo Daira is 1,580m.

[In front of Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士の前で、"아즈마 코후지" 앞에서]

The Asumayama I climbed is called Azuma-kofuji (吾妻小富士:1,705m). So, I climbed less than 200 meters high. Then I walked around the crater, just like Ohachimeguri(お鉢廻り) of Mt. Fuji. It took me only 20 minutes.

[At Mt. Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士にて、"아즈마 코후지"에서]

[At Mt. Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士にて、"아즈마 코후지"에서]

[Crater of Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士の噴火口、아즈마코후지 분화구]

[At the edge of crater, 噴火口にて、분화구에서]

[At the edge of crater, 噴火口にて、분화구에서]

[At the edge of crater, 噴火口にて、분화구에서]

I came down from the volcano about one hour later. I took a rest at the visitors’ service center. Then I took the bus earlier, hoping to get a good seat.

[At Jodo-Daira, 浄土平にて、조도 다이라에서]

[Jodo-Daira Service Area, 浄土平レストハウス、조도 다이라　휴게소]

It cost 1810 yen from Fukushima to Jodo Daira, and it was 1,330 yen from Jodo Daira to Fukushima, because the course was different.

[The bus for going back, 帰りのバス、후쿠시마행 버스]

I went back to Fukushima station at around 3 pm. Then I called my second son, Ryo, who was in charge of Fukushima Prefecture at the largest NPO named “JCN” in Japan.

[Party on the terrace, テラスでパーティ、、테라스에서 파티]

He was having a home party at his apartment near Fukushima Station and I joined the party.

[Party on the terrace, テラスでパーティ、테라스에서 파티]

Two of his colleagues, a young lady and a young boy were joining us.

They are supporting organic farmers in Fukushima Prefecture, and therefore, they got a lot of organic vegetable.

[At Fukushima St., JR福島駅にて、JR 후쿠시마 역에서]

We had a barbecue party with these vegetable and some meat. We also enjoyed beer and sake.

It was a nice party and I enjoyed a lot.

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登山した山：日本百名山の吾妻山の吾妻小富士[1705m]

登山月日：2014年9月15日(月)晴れ

登山口までのアクセス：JR大船6:40→東京(東北新幹線「やまびこ」7:44)→福島9:50/10:00磐梯吾妻スカイライン浄土平行11:30着

登山ルート：標準時間[編集]浄土平 － (40分) - 尾根 － (20分) - 山頂 － (40分) - 浄土平

大船を6時40分発の東海道で東京着7:27。東北新幹線「やまびこ」7:44で福島着9:39。福島発磐梯吾妻スカイライン浄土平経由福島もどりはこの時期休日のみ運行され、一日に2本のみ。

[Tohoku Shinkansen "Yamabiko" 東北新幹線「やまびこ」、도호쿠 신칸센 "야마 비코"]

福島駅東口始発9:50だが、西口10:00にしたのは失敗。良い席をとるには始発に乗らねばならない。座席は8割方埋まっており、後部の通路側に座った。

[A view point "Kunimidai"「国見台」バス停、"쿠니미다이"버스 정류장]

[A view from the bus stop, 国見台からの展望、쿠니미다이라에서의 전망]

バスは見所で一時停車してくれるが下車はできない。窓からながめるだけなので、窓側の席を確保しなくてはならない。

途中、土湯などの複数の温泉をまわる。浄土平には予定通り11:30に到着。同じバスが75分後に山を越えて福島へ戻るので登山時間はこの間になる。

[Jodo Daira Bus Stop, 浄土平バス停、조우드 다니라 버스 정류장]

登山できる場所は吾妻小富士の山頂・火口か、反対側の一切経山になる。今回はイージーな吾妻小富士にした。

[At Mt. Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士にて、"아즈마 코후지"에서]

[Crater of Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士の噴火口、아즈마코후지 분화구]

[C\At the crater of Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士の噴火口にて、아즈마코후지 분화구에서]

火山の火口なので富士山のお鉢巡りそっくりだが、所要時間はちょっと急いで20分ほどだった。

[C\At the crater of Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士の噴火口にて、아즈마코후지 분화구에서]

[C\At the crater of Azuma-Kofuji, 吾妻小富士の噴火口にて、아즈마코후지 분화구에서]

[At Jodo-Daira, 浄土平にて、조도 다이라에서]

下山は少し早めにバスに乗ったが、最前席はすでに他人に確保されていて、第2列目に座った。ちまにみ往路は1810円で、復路は1330円というのは、完全なピストンではなく、コースがことなるループだからだ。合計3140円というのは有料道路だからだろう。

ちょうど次男の亮が前日、郡山のイベントで仕入れた野菜があったので、仲間と打ち上げするのに合流した。

[Party on the terrace, テラスでパーティ、、테라스에서 파티]

かれのマンションは福島駅東口側だった。仲間は、ここ2年ほど行動をともにしているという小柄な美人と高卒後加わった秋田出身の青年だった。

[At Fukushima St., JR福島駅にて、JR 후쿠시마 역에서]

飲み物はとりあえず「えびすビール」で、終わるころは日本酒。なかなかおいしい日本酒だが、一升瓶の残りをペットボトルに入れて、持ち帰ったため、帰路の新幹線内ですっかりできあがってしまったのは改めて失敗だった。