Mankanho, located in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, is a 470-meter-high satoyama (a type of traditional rural landscape that combines elements of both forests and farmland) with a ridge line extending along Suruga Bay. Although it is a low mountain, it lives up to its name “Mankanho” due to the panoramic view of Mt. Fuji, the Southern Alps, the Izu Peninsula and Suruga Bay from the summit, enabling you to enjoy the scenic attractions of Shizuoka to the fullest. There is a spacious observation area at the top of the mountain, which is crowded on the weekends and holidays with hikers wishing to take in the spectacular view.
Along with Mt. Takakusa and Mt. Hanazawa, it is referred to as the “Yaizu Alps” , and it is a popular satoyama loved by local residents.
There are several routes to the summit of Mankanho, but today, we will introduce a hiking course that goes from “Hanazawa no Sato” to the “Kurakake Pass” and connects to the Tokaido Nature Trail BP (Bypass Course), which takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes one-way. This is an easy course that is recommended for beginner hikers and parents and children.
Hanazawa no Sato temporary parking lot ⇒ Kurakake Pass ⇒ Mankanho (Time required: Approx. 1 hour and 50 minutes)
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Warm up with a stroll through Hanazawa no Sato!
＜Time: 9:35＞
Let’s now head to Hanazawa no Sato, where the start of the trail is located, by car!
We’ve parked the car at the temporary parking lot (free of charge). You can tell how popular this trail is as the parking lot is almost full of cars at 9:00 a.m. There is also the “Hanazawa no Sato” parking lot about 300 meters ahead.
If you wish to use the bus, get off at the “Takakusayama Ishiwaki Iriguchi” bus stop (Shizutetsu Justline), then head to “Hanazawa no Sato” on foot.
Hanazawa no Sato, the starting point, is a mountain village located in a mountain valley that is home to about 30 households. The town’s elegant atmosphere retains the atmosphere of the Edo period and is very popular as a sightseeing spot.
Rows of Nagaya-mon style traditional Japanese homes can be found along the gently uphill street. The murmuring of the river, the chirping of the birds and even the bells used to repel bears sound pleasant and comforting.
No matter where you take pictures, the nostalgic landscape of the town makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time.
An unmanned sales corner is located at the entrance of a private home. When we visited in November, mandarin oranges, persimmons and sweet potatoes were on display.
Around 100 yen per bag of mandarin oranges! What a bargain! We’ll purchase some to bring home with us.
The tanka inscription reads, “I wonder about that girl I met on the road to Abe in Suruga Province when I was in the Yaizu area.”
Hanazawa no Sato flourished during the Nara and Heian periods as “Yakitsube no Komichi”, a major mountain pass connecting Shizuoka and Yaizu, and is said to have such a long history that it was even mentioned in the Manyoshu (Japan’s oldest anthology of poetry dating back to the 8th century).
We discovered a functioned water mill that uses water from the Hanazawa River!
Our journey to Manganho is finally underway!
＜Time: 9:58＞
Here is where we will start our hike up the mountain! There’s a sign that reads, “Beware of bears”. Let’s hike with caution, wearing a bell to repel bears.
Although the hiking course is well maintained, there are some slippery and steep sections along the way, so if you don’t have trekking poles (hiking sticks), you can rent bamboo walking sticks instead.
We’ll climb up the wooden stairs.
Even though it is late November, the weather is so warm and sunny that we are sweating. Let’s cool down and refresh with the river water!
＜Time: 10:39＞
After hiking for about 40 minutes, you will arrive at the Kurakake Pass, which is a junction point. The left side leads to Mt. Takakusa and the right side leads to Manganho.
After a short break, we picked up the poles and continued climbing.
＜Time: 10:53＞
There is a signpost that reads, “1km to the summit”, which lifts our spirits. Let’s go for it!
Looking at the mountains of the Yaizu Alps, we felt very encouraging to keep going up.
＜Time: 11:10＞
The sky above us is opening up and it’s getting brighter. Are we almost at the summit?
We can hear the sounds of people talking! Just one more push to the top! Let’s go for it!
We’ve reached the summit! Mt. Fuji is clearly visible! The 360-degree panoramic view is breathtaking!
＜Time: 11:35＞
The observation area at the summit was already crowded with hikers. We were blessed with great weather on the day of our visit, and the majestic Mt. Fuji was clearly visible. It feels so good! Suruga Bay is also shining brightly.
Beyong Suruga Bay, you can faintly see the Izu Peninsula.
Yaizu Port and the townscape of Yaizu are also clearly visible.
The hike took around two hours. Even though it was for beginners, it was a little tough on us as we were a bit out of shape. We started to become a bit discouraged midway through, but ultimately it was worth the effort!
Please come and see the vast panoramic view that cannot be captured by a camera lens with your own eyes.
There are also a gazebo, tables and benches at the observation area, so you can have your lunch and relax here.
The return trip back down the mountain is quick and easy, and only takes about an hour. Although our knees are in pain, it feels great!!
Reward yourself with some sweets! Storehouse & Garden Cafe “Country Oven”
After reaching “Hanazawa no Sato”, head to the cafe inside a traditional Japanese house along the street. Reward yourself for your hard work with some sweets and coffee for a moment of relaxation.
Here at Country Oven, you can enjoy homemade sweets and coffee while being surrounded with the nostalgic atmosphere in the garden of a 130-year-old traditional Japanese-style house with a warehouse.
I’m in the mood for tarts and creme brulee! I couldn’t choose, so I decided to order the “snack set” (assorted sweets and drink included) recommended by the owner.
Feel a sense of relaxation and nostalgia with the vintage atmosphere of the miscellaneous goods.
Handmade cakes and breads are also available for takeout. The wooden box showcase is simple and has a warm feel to it.
Pick and enjoy the refreshing flavor of mandarin oranges!
You can enjoy mandarin orange picking near the entrance to Hanazawa no Sato (Mid-October to late December).
Pick as many as you want for an unlimited amount of time! You can also take home the oranges that you picked as souvenirs. Enjoy the taste of freshly picked mandarin oranges!
How did you enjoy the 1.5-hour hiking course from Hanazawa no Sato to Manganho?
We began with a stroll through the nostalgic streets of the town, followed by a hike up the mountain while being pushed by the beauty of nature and then a breathtaking panoramic view beyond our imagination at the summit of the mountain! Finally, we relaxed and unwound with some sweets… It was truly a wonderful day.
