Driving from Magome through the local winding roads the scenery has been spectacular very hilly and mountainous and we see the hydro electric power stations on the rivers as the road follows the river course through the valley. We cross the bridge heading to the forest on a very narrow winding road hoping not to meet another car or worse a bus. We are rewarded with beautiful hills and trees and we arrive at the park where we pay our fee and get a map of all the walks in the park. Everything is well organised, signposted and there are always good toilets to be found – a blessing when you are on the road. We bought our bento boxes in town and have our picnic on one of the benches – the sashimi is delicious.
We take the mountain stream walk first and enjoy the beautiful trees, large roots and fungi. There are wooden ramps where the soil has subsided due to the high rainfall which makes walking easy and prevents me tripping over the numerous roots. All is quiet except for the stream as it flows briskly over the rocks in its path but there is also small little coves where you could swim if you climb down the rocks.
Next being more adventurous we explore the walk that boasts the most diverse trees and find there are indeed some amazing specimens. Alarmingly there are notices up warning of the bears with bells to ring as a deterrent. There is an old steam train that crosses our path and when the track circles round we find the stream and decide to brave the waters and have a swim. The rocks are very slippery but we find somewhere to get in and enjoy the wonderful therapeutic properties of icy mountain water on the naked skin – well we did wear our swimsuits so as not to embarrass the passengers on the train.
We arrive back at the restaurant to find that tea time has ended so we have to satisfy our thirst with offerings from the vending machine.
Feeling very in tune with nature after our forest bathing we head off into the distance through the wonderful mountain road back to our lodgings in Magome to be ready for the 6pm diner curfew, yet another huge dinner.
