Showing posts with label Saitama prefecture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saitama prefecture. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Only sakura

Could not resist to post some sakura (cherry tree) flower pictures and video. These moments I captured in Tokorozawa town, Saitama prefecture.


Video: closer look on sakura

Early sakura
Image: sakura just started to bloom. Some flowers are not even open

Early sakura Japan cherry tree flower
Image: another sakura

Sakura tree on the river side
Image: riverside sakura tree

Bonus video:
While comming back saw group of people advertising new pachinko.


Video: funny marketing specialists

Monday, June 2, 2008

Bukou mountain near Chichibu town

It is 1304 metres high and located near Chichibu town in Saitama prefecture. Good place for day hike out of Tokyo. Interesting that this mountain lost one half and become lower due to lime mining activities. Many factories line up one side of mountain.

Limestone is extracted in open mines, put on belts and transfered to factories. Probably all people who live in Chichibu and nearby villages work or otherwise is connected to this limestone mine.

Bukou mountain
Image: Bukou mountain as its seen from Chichibu town side

Cement factory
Image: Cement factory on the hillside

Trail is wide and not steep, but pretty long walk. Forest around trail is being very well kept (probably thanks to nearby mine).


Video: some moments from hike

On the top there are flat meadow with some huts and old temple. Highest point is flat rock from where it is possible to see all of Chichibu town and a little bit peek down into mine.

Temple on Bukou mountain
Image: temple on the top

Mountain on the Google map.

View Larger Map

Access:
From Ikebukuro station by Seibu railway till station Yokoze 横瀬 - which is one stop before last - Seibuchichibu 西武秩父. Journey takes around 100 minutes. From there have to follow signs 武甲山 or Bukousan. From top can descent towards station Urayama 浦山, which is on the other side of mountain and from there take train back to Chichibu town.