Singing in the rain (on Mt Nyukasa)
Hike date: October 24, 2026
There were so few people on the mountain today that I was singing out loud with no fear of being discovered.
Despite the forecast of torrential rain, I couldn't bear the thought of staying inside so headed off to nearby Mt Nyukasa. I decided to climb from the Sawairi trailhead, which has the advantage of having a lot of forest cover - perfect for when the rain is pouring down as it did through the whole time I was on the mountain.
The forest road to Sawairi was covered in thick mist, and I realized it would be a lonely climb when I discovered this often busy car park was completely empty apart from me. I was soon heading up the path with the rain dripping down from the tree cover. There wasn't much to say about the first hour of the hike apart from the spectacular autumn foliage, which I could see shining brightly in brilliant reds and golds through the mist. It really was breathtaking and I took way too many photos of similar scenes.
The foliage turned out to be the highlight of the day as the heavy rain made hiking through the later, more exposed sections of the hike to be endured rather than enjoyed. The ropeway that ges to the summit plateau was running, but there was almost nobody making the trip as far as I could see. Still, this meant I was able to sing out loud and enjoy the sounds and smells of this rain-soaked mountain all by myself. I wasn't able to see the usual views of the Yatsugatake range, but I was able to enjoy this normally popular mountain in complete solitude.
Check here for more information about Mt Nyukasa.
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