1) Adam (1 dinner - BBQ)
2) Karthik (1 dinner - steamed rice, chicken curry)
3) Asuka (1 breakfast - bagel, cream cheese, & bacon)
4) Nozomi (1 breakfast - granola & sausage)
5) Tammy (1 dinner- Pasta & salad)
6) AB (1 breakfast)
Summary:
This 4-day weekend allows us enough time to head deep into Japan's countryside and explore its rich nature and heritage. Our destination for this trip will be the Northeast of Akita, home of Matagi, the ancient bear hunters of Japan. The highlight of this trip will be a 1-day, 10 km above-beginner level sawanobori. Before or after the sawanobori (weather sensitive) we will visit some (impossible to do all...) of the points of interest in the area such as Tamagawa Onsen, Top-100 Yasu-no-Taki Falls, the Matagi Museum, or even a Kuma (bear) Park by van. We will establish a base camp at Moriyoshi Camping Ground for 3 nights. It's a basic auto campground that will suit us nicely. We'll head back to Tokyo after a big breakfast or big onsen, or both. Hopefully back in Tokyo around 7pm.
Schedule:
Friday, Sept 18 *light rain, low: 20C
20:30 meet at Ikebukuro Station, Exit 1B, entrance of Kojitsu Sansou outdoor gear store
22:00 free camp in park, Tochigi
hobo pies
Saturday, Sept 19 *sunny, high: 23C low: 14C
5:00 fruit, bread, yogurt, coffee, pack up
6:00 drive
12:00 lunch in Yuzawa
13:00 supermarket
17:00 arrive at Yoseinomori campground
Dinner by Tammy
Sunday, Sept 20 *light rain in morn clearing in afternoon, high: 17C low: 13C
breakfast by Nozomi
sawanobori
pack lunch
onsen
dinner by Karthik
Monday, Sept 21 *sunny in morn, chance of shower afternoon, high 20C, low 12C
breakfast by AB
Tamagawa onsen
Lake Tazawa
local lunch
Matagi museum, Kuma Park, Yasunotaki
dinner by Adam
Tuesday, Sept 22 *sunny, high 20C
bagels, cream cheese, & bacon
visit pools
lunch on road
19:00 arrive in Tokyo (9 hours driving)
Travel Details, Meeting Time & Place (旅行の詳細, 集合時間と場所):
Time - 20:30 Friday the 18th of September
Location - Ikebukuro Station, Exit 1B, next to Kojitsu Sanso outdoor gear store.
https://goo.gl/maps/kd56FNjrGJoUA1oc6
Cost:
TBD. approximately ¥20,000 for transportation, accommodation, and food
Event Grade (イベント等級) for sawanobori
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=3451
Fitness Grade 3 - Moderate
5 hours guide book time, 8 hours based on other trip reports, 10km horizontal, 250m vertical
Trailhead location: <〒018-4511 秋田県北秋田市森吉>
Technical 5 VERY DIFFICULT - Intermediate (中級)
Involves 3-5 rappels! Climbing will be using steps carved in rock and fixed ropes.
Sign Up Conditions, Contact Details:
Reply this post and confirm you have gear.
Things to Bring (持参もの):
- sawanobori shoes, felt or rubber soles (I prefer rubber)
- harness
- 1 locking carabiner
- ATC or other rappelling device
- helmet
- comfortable hiking shoes for day-trips and camp bring 1 pair only
- cup/mug, bowl, spoon, water bottle
- a basic sleeping bag & camping mat
- 1 day pack and 1 duffel bag no large backpacks with frame, they will not fit in the van!
- Bug spray, LED headlight
- fleece or jumper
- long underwear for sleeping
- Swimwear
- onsen towel
- light rain coat and rain pants
- I have 2 JUMBO tents we can use for this trip. We'll separate 3 and 3. Leave your tent at home.
- camping char (optional)
- your meal for the group (you can store it in the cooler) We will make one stop at a supermarket on Saturday
Shared Equipment: I am bring all of these items
2 JUMBO tents (campground has shelter if it rains)
Dutch oven w/ tools
portable stove
BBQ grill w/ tools (we'll rent from CG)
large cooler (you can store food and drinks inside)
charcoal
mess kit (pots & pans, ect.)
large knife
cutting board
salt & pepper
oil
hot sauce
foil & plastic wrap
camp light (you may also bring one...)
mosquito coils (I have leftovers from summer...)
Highlights:
Sawanobori:
Up Todozawa, over pass and down Akamizusawa
Above beginners or even strong beginners can do this trip. We will climb waterfalls using carved steps (in rocks) and fixed ropes. I will also bring my own rope. You will want a pair of sawanobori shoes, harness, ATC or figure 8, and a locking carabiner. We'll rappel down 3-5 waterfalls. Be ready!
The guidebook says 5-hours but trip reports have both shown 8 hours. I am allowing all day in our schedule to complete this. There are also nice swimming pools along the route. Sadly I cannot enjoy them because of my hand, but I hope you all can.
Tamagawa onsen:
This is a very strong and powerful onsen where vasts amounts of piping hot (close to 100C), acidic water (most acidic in Japan) is jetting out of the ground (the most in Japan). It's a surreal and prehistoric atmosphere that is a very rare occurrence on Earth. People even come from all around the country to try and cure themselves of cancer by laying on the ground for weeks at a time, exposing themselves to the radium being emitted from the ground. This is a very unique area that we should make an effort to see.
Matagi Museum:
<https://www.city.kitaakita.akita.jp/kan ... i/003.html>
Matagi are the people of Japan who hunt (especially bear) using old methods, and also a gun. They use the meat for their livelihood and care deeply about the animals and the environment. The Matagi are few, but are most commonly found in this area of Japan.
Yasunotaki:
Top-100, 2-step 90m waterfall. Can be reached in about 40 minutes on a path from the parking lot.
Moriyoshi Campground:
<https://cottage-laulu.jp/fairy-camp/>
Simple campground nestled in a beech grove. We'll call this home for 3 whole days.
Rain or shine, I'm expecting an amazing time!
I’ll do one dinner unless we have too many cooks! Asuka
.
I couldn't be more disappointed about it. I can tell you all what happened later. I still have one good hand, two good, legs, and a strong back. One broken hand is not enough for me to stop having adventures. 
