Bride's Road
<花嫁街道>
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Biwa Kurabu
Beginner-friendly hiking trail with gentle slopes.
Long ago, brides walked along this path from their mountain village surrounded by camphor trees out to seacoast towns in order to get married. This is the origin of the name Bride's Road.
Today, it is a 13.5-kilometer (8.4-mile), maintained hiking trail arranged as a 3-hour loop course. Gentle slopes throughout making it an easy trail to walk. The course includes Mount Karasuba, which has been included in the New Top 100 Mountains of Japan list in recognition of its wonderful view from the summit.
[ Origin of Bride's Road ]
In times past, this path served as a route of exchange between the mountain village of Kamimihara and coastal villages. It was used for going to the sea to harvest salt, procuring daily commodities, and traveling to and from school. Wedding processions for brides also passed along this route, which is why it was later named Bride's Road after its conversion into a hiking trail.
Although the route has been altered somewhat from its original form, it still contains numerous remnants of the past, preserving old place names such as Kyomon-ishi, Jigaisui, Saruwatari, Umaido, Komagaeshi, and Sajikitsuka (a place once used for horse-running).
The village of Kamimihara also has a long history: the Surusumori settlement is believed to be the birthplace of the legendary horse Surusumi, which belonged to the 12th-century shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo; the Gojukura settlement boasts ties with tales of the Satomi clan; and Takenonaka settlement residents made a living by planting bamboo which was harvested to make fishing baskets and barrels, both necessities for the local fishing industry—takebayashi (bamboo thicket) is still used in many modern-day place names as a result.
[ Popular "Power Spot" ]
This walking route surrounded by pristine natural scenery was once used by bridal processions, and today it serves as a hiking trail. If you shut your eyes, you can almost see brides from eras past, smiling as they walk the trail.
Location & Phone
南房総市和田町花園
Phone number +81 470-28-5307 (Minamiboso Tourism Association)
Access
10 min. by car (for hikers starting at Shizen-no-yado Kusunoki)
Take the train to Wadaura Stn. (JR Uchibo Line) to hike the loop course
Details
- Notable Spot 1
- Mount Karasuba
Included in the New Top 100 Mountains of Japan list, this peak offers breathtaking vistas, including views of Mounts Kiyosumi, Mineoka, Kyozuka, Goten, Iyogatake and other Boso region mountains. It is also possible to see the Izu Peninsula, Mount Fuji, Izu Oshima Island and other natural features—bring a pair of binoculars for the best experience.
- Mount Karasuba
- Notable Spot 2
- Kuro Falls and Kosaibo's Tomb
Midway along the Choja River, water originating from the depths of Mount Hanazono spills down 15 meters (49 ft.) to form Kuro Falls.
Kosaibo was a retainer of Kataoka Gengoemon, one of the famous forty-seven ronin (masterless samurai). Kosaibo's remains were interred here after he served as a priest.
- Kuro Falls and Kosaibo's Tomb
- Notable Spot 3
- Kyomon-ishi
On the original route which, until about 50 years ago, passed under this kyomon-ishi (stone inscribed with Buddhist scripture), it was possible to look up and read the fading Sanskrit engravings. However, weathering of the rock face over the years has made the engravings illegible, and passing underneath has become dangerous due to the risk of falling rocks, so the path now passes overhead.
- Kyomon-ishi
Bonus Info
The view from the summit is outstanding. It's worth the hike.