Climbing Mount AizuBandai (1816m) and reminiscing about Ohara Shosuke-san along the way.

This year's Bon holiday concluded amidst a looming typhoon, but I hope everyone is safe. Knowing that a typhoon was approaching Kansai region, I hurried back to Osaka from Tohoku just before it arrived.

This year, the plan was to climb Mount Bandai, Mount Iide, and Mount Adatara. On the evening of August 9th, I set out from Osaka by car. We took turns driving to avoid drowsy driving, pinched our cheeks, and even got lost along the way. Nevertheless, we managed to arrive at the Inawashiro Ski Resort early the next morning.

On the first day, we took a lift from the Inawashiro Ski Resort to the trailhead. We ascended via Mount Akahane, passed by Tengu-iwa, and reached the spring of Kobō-shimizu before finally summiting Mount Bandai. 

Mount Bandai has a commanding presence, rising almost like a protrusion from Lake Inawashiro. It's a mountain that's sung about in folk songs, with lyrics like "Hey, Mount Bandai in Aizu, so high up in the mountains." It's clear to see why it holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Fukushima.

Listening to the folk song "Aizu Bandai-san" after a long time, I was reminded of the playful refrain that goes, "Ohara Shosuke-san, why did you squander your fortune? You loved to sleep in, drink in the morning, and take morning baths. That's just the way it is!" It puts me in a relaxed mood. 
Near Mount Bandai, there are many hot springs, and I might have spent my time lounging around while enjoying delicious local sake from the rice-producing regions and taking in the majestic scenery.

While indulging in the habit of sleeping in, morning drinking, and morning baths every day might pose some problems, it's worth considering taking a page from Shosuke Ohara's book and occasionally enjoying such leisurely moments. Although my schedule was packed with daily mountain climbing this time, if I have the chance to visit Fukushima again, I'd like to dedicate a day to Shosuke Ohara-style relaxation (^^).

Mount Bandai is an active volcano, and on July 15, 1888 (Meiji 21), it erupted, resulting in 477 casualties, making it the largest volcanic disaster in Japan since the Meiji era. About 50,000 years ago, a mountain collapse occurred on the Omote-Bandai side, causing a rock avalanche to the southwest, blocking a river and creating Lake Inawashiro. The year 1888 mountain collapse happened on the Ura-Bandai side, where a steam explosion caused the collapse and disappearance of Ko-Bandai, creating numerous lakes and ponds, including Lake Hibara, by blocking rivers along with the flow of the mountain terrain.

The site of the mountain collapse features a rugged rocky surface. From near the Kobo Shimizu hut, you can look down on the old crater of 'Numa-no-Hira.' On the other hand, the area also offers beautiful wetlands and alpine plants, providing a varied and interesting landscape to hikers. There are many hiking routes, so I felt like climbing it again in a different season.

As you get closer to the summit, there is the Kobo Shimizu hut, where you can buy drinks, Nameko mushroom soup, and Oden, making it a safe climb even for families on summer vacation. I can imagine it gets quite crowded during the autumn foliage season. I regret just passing by the hut; I should have bought a T-shirt or something.

After descending Mount Bandai, we moved to the Kawairi Misawa Campground, and the next day we went to Mount Iide for an overnight tent hike. I will talk about this in my next blog.