Ushibarayama Excursion

The village of Matsuzaki is situated on a delta formed by the Okawa River, which has carried soil and rocks from the surrounding mountains over time. The village is small enough that you can walk from its southern edge to the northern end in just 15 to 20 minutes, and from the eastern side to the ocean in about 10 to 15 minutes. This makes it nearly impossible to get lost for long.

However, taking in a bird's-eye view of the village offers a better perspective of the town and also provides a chance to glimpse Mt. Fuji, which is hidden behind hills when you're within Matsuzaki.

The hike to this viewpoint spans about 4.5 kilometers, with the toughest section being a steep path that begins to the right of the Inashimo Shrine, directly across from the Itokawa Guest House.

The path is maintained by the shrine priest, but it can be slippery and muddy, especially after rain, so a walking stick could be helpful. Once at the top, head left, and you'll be rewarded with a lovely panoramic view of Matsuzaki.

On your way back, be sure to stop at the various points of interest, which are introduced below.

The above video was taken over 4 years ago in  November of 2017 and I haven't seen the sled run since then but at that time it was still a lot of fun! It was well worth the climb up the mountain!

Just make certain that you bring the sleds back up the hill after your final run! And update us about the conditions of the sled run along with some photos!!!

After reaching the top of the trail from Inashimo Shrine, head to your left, and you'll find a spot offering a great view of the village—well, almost. Until a few years ago, there was a tower you could climb for an even better vantage point of Matsuzaki. However, when I visited in October 2021, I found that the tower had been removed. Unfortunately, the trees on the hillside now block the view of the buildings and the river in the southern part of town.

If you're lucky, though, you might still catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji, as seen in the photo above, and perhaps even snap a picture of it.

Thanks to the hard work of the owner and the YTT team, mountain biking in Matsuzaki has become a hub for enthusiasts from across Japan. Despite being less than 100 kilometers from downtown Tokyo, the western Izu Peninsula was once isolated due to its rugged mountains and coastline. Before roads were constructed in the 1950s, access was limited to boats or hiking the old trails.

With the advent of roads, the trails fell into disuse and were soon overtaken by vegetation and erosion. Then, in the early 2010s, Matsumoto-san began turning his vision of reviving these forgotten paths into reality, transforming them into a network of mountain biking trails that connect local villages. For information on the different levels of bike tours, costs, and other services provided by YTT, please visit their website at https://www.yamabushi-trail-tour.com