Aug 29-30: Ashio Matsuki Gorge Easy Walk, Wild Camp (松木渓谷)

[Andy OCJ]

UPDATE
Reposted for this weekend - reply if you still want to go. Weather is very good Friday and Saturday so water colours should be great. Perfect camp weather (no rain 0% chance Saturday), night sky, camp fire, blue/green water.

So far from last event date( but resign up to confirm):
1) Tom ?

3) Arajeet ?
4) Karthik ?

You as a group need to plan the train/transport (easy online).
1. Go to Kiriyu then to Ashio Mato by train. Can take a long time and not so cheap (3,800yen) but simplest hassle free way on public transport. Old railway after Kiriyu so could be interesting going up the valley on mining railway.

http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.h ... m_target=7


2. Or to Tobu Nikko (faster express but over 2000yen oneway) and then bus (less than 1000 I think and total travel time about 3 hours). English tourist office there on phone will help. Now with only limited express train it is not as cheap as it used to be.... similar price but probably faster than via Kiriyu if you plan bus connection in Nikko. You need to know where the bus stop is ( on main road, opposite side, turn left out of Tobu Nikko station) and what time for departure. It is a smaller bus usually.


http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.h ... m_target=7


3. Or hire car if 4 people (might be cheaper and quicker).

So if public transport is 3,800yen each then I think same price for 4 people in hire car. Several years ago JR hire car was about 7500+yen/day including gas charges for this kind of distance.
Adam might know cheaper hire places.

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Title & Date: Aug 29-30th: Ashio Matsuki Gorge Easy Walk, Wild Camp (松木渓谷)

Weather between these spots but close to the first two for Sukai San:

https://tenki.jp/mountain/famous100/3/13/136.html

https://tenkura.n-kishou.co.jp/tk/kanko ... e=15&ba=kk


https://tenki.jp/mountain/famous100/3/12/133.html



Very beautiful wild valley near Nikko. Rock scenery like the Alps but easy walk along river valley path.
Beginners can walk along river valley to enjoy the cliff scenery. Always see animals here ... deer, monkeys,fox etc.
Pools you can swim in. Wild camp and camp fire. It is a lot cooler there than Tokyo.
Basically it is a 1 hour 30 minute walk along forest road beside river in the valley and camp on grass (just past the nature centre). Nice camping there and beautiful scenery. Campfire and cook there.
Wilder spots another hour along path beside the river if you really want the best.... better to walk the extra hour.


Google Map

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.663109, ... 2409,13.5z

Walk starts from Ashio Mato Akakura up the road and then left into Matsuki valley.



Previous event details
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=3325


http://www.hellojapan.asia/en/travel-gu ... alley.html


Route map
https://www.yamareco.com/modules/yamare ... 45889.html


Event Grade (イベント等級)
viewtopic.php?f=76&t=3451

Fitness: level 1+ very easy.
Technical 2 EASY - Beginner (初心者) . Mostly level 1 forest road and short simple trail. Hike further in the valley graded moderate - above beginer as there is a bit of path damage from rain in 1 or 2 spots. If there is a difficult spot then stop and turn back. Beginners can go as far as safe.

You can walk 1 hour 30 minutes and make a camp spot. Then walk further into the valley without bags, or 2nd day. Or you can walk further into the valley Saturday and camp by river in wildest most beautiful spots - wide river valley area. This is recommended plan.



Sign Up Conditions, Contact Details
Reply this post and confirm you have gear.


Things to Bring (持参もの)

Basic camp you will need outdoor footwear or good training shoes.
Some food and water bottle. 100 yen pot for cooking or boiling water on fire.
A basic sleeping bag to sleep out, camping mat
Bug spray, LED headlight, toilet paper (no toilet - wild).
Warm top for night time.
Swimwear
If you have a tent its better but depends on the weather. Plastic sheet cover might be enough if you want to risk it.



Travel Details, Meeting Time & Place (旅行の詳細, 集合時間と場所)
To be decided.

Train to Ashio Mato on Tobu line via Kiriyu (long) or to Nikko Tobu station and then local bus to Ashio Mato (might be quickest and cheapest) but now there are few cheap rapid trains to Nikko (they changed to mostly more expensive reserved seat trains). Check which way is better.

Bus is across the road from the Tobu Nikko station and takes less than 40 minutes. Bus stops before Ashio dam at Akakura maybe and does a U-turn - check with the driver for Matsuki keikoku best bus stop - Furukawa bridge I think is the last.


Cost
Just travel cost...
Cheapest Tobu train to Nikko and bus about 2600yen oneway but maybe not availabe to link with the bus at Tobu Nikko.


OCJ is funded by 500yen event attendance (up to 3 days). Collected by organizer who sends half of that to the club PayPal account for website costs.

[Andy OCJ]

Resign up so people know who is still attending.

You need to check the train details yourselves - I already posted some links. One person will have to collect the OCJ event fee and send to me via paypal (credit card needed or paypal linked bank account).

If a reliable group (4-5) I think hire car is best if there is a driver. Or a van if more. Simplest way on the train is via Kiriyu but it is a long trip... sit back and enjoy the ride up old valley mining railway.

Weather looks good until later Sunday so enjoy the water pools, camp fire, clear night sky...
Take rainwear for later Sunday if needed.

Perfect chance to go there!

[xiej41]

I still want to join, but I didn’t make it to buy a tent or huge plastic, is there any sleeping space from other member? If there is any space, I will join for sure.

[Andy OCJ]

If weather forecast same just department store sheet is enough.... can buy anytime 500yen

Even car cover or motobike cover enough.

[arajeet]

Looks like we all are beginners in this trip.
Any one experienced to accompany here ?

[xiej41]

What time will we leave on Saturday? Is it possible for me
to buy it on Saturday morning?

[TomHughes]

Xie I have space in my tent if you need. I am still up for the walk by the way.

[Andy OCJ]

You should leave early Saturday to make the most of trip and best weather. I would keep walking past the nature centre another 1- 1.5 hours until you see the wide river bed and rock scenery in the photos - best spot.

It is impossible to get lost as you walk along by the side of the river. 50% is on forest road gravel track.


As said, car is good if a driver and 4 reliable, or 5 people.

If you do not want to plan for bus from Nikko then do the other basic simple train route - Tobu Asakusa to Ashio Mato. It is long but easy to do.
Timetable was given above - just decide which one between yourselves. You need to leave before 9am. Also Asakusa transfer can be tricky - make sure you allow lots of extra time to get to Tobu station.
They are reserved seats now so again you need to book or take a risk in the morning.... go early. I would call them to see how many seats available.

Hire car is good if driver and 4 people. Get on the road by 8am.

If by train this is easy option:

0740 depature. Tobu Asakusa - Aioi - Ashio Mato

http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.h ... m_target=7

[xiej41]

cannot join anymore, have to come to office tmr.
Thank you for offering the space, Tom!

[Andy OCJ]

Well, it is up to the remaining people to decide what to do.

Map is supplied above (print or save to phone). It is a beginner trip so no experience necessary to walk along the route - that was the plan. Main point is turning left over the river about 1.5km from the bus stop - just after road barrier usually padlocked. After that you follow track beside the river.

View of turning point into Matsuki valley.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6796338 ... e3!5m1!1e4

At this point best option is take the Tobu Ryomu train - timetable link supplied.

[TomHughes]

Thank you Andy I will definitely take this trip another time. Since there are only two of us it doesn't look like it is happening today though.

[Andy OCJ]

Please copy and paste the details for another weekend. Better while still warm for most people, and to swim, but autumn is nice there (cold).