Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Mt. Ibuki, the highest peak in Shiga Prefecture, for a stargazing event. Known for its medicinal herbs and offering a variety of outdoor activities throughout the year, including flower viewing in spring, night hikes in summer, and ski mountaineering in winter, Mt. Ibuki is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
However, this time, it was a drive-up adventure.Unfortunately, due to heavy rains on July 12, 2023, the mountain’s trails suffered extensive damage, and as of now, it’s not possible to hike to the summit from its base. The recovery process is expected to be lengthy. On the western side of Mt. Ibuki, limestone mining is carried out, and I’ve often found it a bit distressing to see while passing by.
The occurrence of landslides has now made hiking impossible, which is a cause for concern. Despite the current accessibility challenges, Mt. Ibuki remains a captivating and cherished natural gem, offering various experiences to those who venture there. We can only hope for a swift recovery of the hiking trails and the mountain’s return to its vibrant glory.
When we arrived at the parking lot a little after 5 PM, it was almost 80% full of cars, including many campervans. It seemed like most people were planning to spend the night in their vehicles. The place was bustling with photographers carrying large telephoto lenses.
We only had to hike one station to reach the summit, which was quite easy (^^). We could leisurely enjoy the sunset, and I realized that this relaxed exploration of the summit, without having to worry about the time it would take to descend, was a great experience in its own right.
At the summit of Mt. Ibuki, you can find a statue of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (also known as Japan's heroic Prince Yamato), a legendary figure in Japanese mythology. According to the Kojiki, one of Japan's oldest historical texts, Yamato Takeru embarked on a journey to Mt. Ibuki on his way back from a military campaign to subdue eastern regions. He had heard of a deity on Mt. Ibuki causing disturbances, and he decided to climb the mountain to defeat it. However, he forgot his legendary sword, Kusanagi no Tsurugi, and as a result, he faced the wrath of the deity in the form of "rain, fog, and ice." He narrowly escaped with his life (Kojiki). In Japanese folklore, the white boar is associated with Mt. Ibuki. There is a statue of a white boar, which might be a bit challenging to locate. Some suggest that the character "Tatarigami" the cursed boar deity in Studio Ghibli's "Princess Mononoke," could have been inspired by the white boars of Mt. Ibuki. While there's no direct confirmation, the connection is intriguing and certainly adds to the mystique of the mountain.
The stargazing event began at 7:30 PM, and as we enjoyed a drink while gazing at the stars, we spotted something that moved like the Ginga Tetsudo 999 (Galaxy Express 999).
At first, we thought it might be a UFO! However, we eventually realized that it was likely part of the stargazing event’s presentation, illuminating the sky for us. We chuckled about it, saying, “Well, at least we got to see something interesting.” It must have added an extra touch of wonder to the night’s stargazing experience!
The following morning, we woke up at 4:30 AM in hopes of catching the first light of day. However, to our disappointment, the surroundings were shrouded in thick mist. It seemed like witnessing the sunrise might not be possible. But as we strolled around, we noticed a phenomenon where misty clouds were flowing down from the summit, creating a truly enchanting and surreal landscape.
Spending the night atop a mountain allows you to savor morning scenes that are inaccessible in the lower world, providing a sense of luxury and serenity.
Then, this morning, as I casually checked my social media feed, which has now transitioned to “X” (perhaps referring to a platform other than Twitter), I stumbled upon a video that looked just like the Galaxy Express we saw. It turned out to be a video of Starlink satellites!
Starlink is an internet service provided by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space exploration company. The service involves a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, and as long as you have a clear line of sight to the satellites, you can access the internet from virtually anywhere.
It’s quite astonishing to realize that what appeared as a scattered, moving pattern resembling the Galaxy Express was, in fact, this network of satellites. They are often referred to as the “Starlink train.”
The satellites are positioned relatively close to each other shortly after their launch, and the opportunity to witness them passing over Japan is relatively rare, as they quickly spread out. It was indeed lucky to have the chance to see them from the top of Mt. Ibuki.
I’d be delighted to take a look! The sight of these Starlink satellites in the night sky truly resembles the Galaxy Express. I searched for it, and there are indeed several stunning videos capturing these Starlink satellites. It’s impressive how well they’ve been filmed.
One tweet mentions that the video was shot from their home in Hiratsuka at 8:32 PM on July 28, 2023. It’s fascinating that the same phenomenon was visible from both Hiratsuka and Mt. Ibuki at the same time. The sky has its own brand of magic.
What’s even more intriguing is how they suddenly disappeared when you reached a certain point. It’s almost as if they were turned off, perhaps due to an event or a laser display, making them vanish. It’s a testament to the wonder and mystery of the night sky.
Observing the night sky reminds us of our insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe, and the feeling of being drawn into space is indeed a soothing and pleasant sensation.
Summer nights are an excellent time for lying back and gazing at the stars, especially from a mountain’s vantage point. Before it gets too cold, I encourage everyone to venture out for some stargazing. You might even get to witness your very own “Galaxy Express” in the night sky!
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