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    Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs
    Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs
    Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs
    Ebook118 pages1 hour

    Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs

    By Peter Ninnes

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    About this ebook

    Ueda City is in the eastern part of Nagano Prefecture, in the middle of the main Japanese island of Honshu. Less than two hours from Tokyo, the city and its surroundings provide an intriguing mixture of nature, history and culture. Encircled by forested, 2000m high mountains, there are a wealth of hiking opportunities providing dramatic views down to the Chikuma River valley and adjacent fertile plains.

    The city has a rich history, which is explored in a number of walks in this book. Bessho Onsen provides a chance to soak in some ancient hot springs. In addition, there are famous temples and shrines nearby, many dating from the 13th century. Strategically located between Tokyo and Niigata, the Ueda area was the scene of a number of historic battles during the 15th century. Later, in the Edo era, it became an
    important site for commerce, transport and agriculture. Many reminders of these times are described in this book.

    Ueda City and environs provide a memorable engagement with one of Japan's most livable cities. Each tour has a detailed English description, colour photographs, and a full-colour map. Even with no Japanese language ability, readers will be able to find their way around the routes, and glean fascinating details about the sights encountered.

    Includes
    Ueda and Sakaki Area
    1. Central Ueda City Walk/Ride
    2. Unno Juku Walk/Ride
    3. Mt Taro Hike
    4. Mt Daidou Hike
    5. Ikushima Tarushima Shrine and Mt Higashi Hike
    Bessho Onsen Area
    6. Bessho Onsen Walk/Ride
    7. Shioda Plains Walk/Ride
    8. Mt Ogami Hike
    9. Mt Tokko Hike
    Aoki Village Area
    10. Mt Juukan and Mt Otaka Hike
    11. Mt Komayumi Hike
    Maruko Area
    12. Maruko Castle Park and Temples Walk
    Sugadaira Kogen
    13. Mt Azumaya and Mt Neko Hike
    Yunomaru Kogen
    14. Mt Eboshi and Mt Yunomaru Hike
    15. Mt Kagonoto and Mt Mizunoto Hike
    Komoro City Area
    16. Nunobiki Temple and Komoro Castle Park Hike

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPeter Ninnes
    Release dateSep 30, 2012
    ISBN9781301955053
    Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs
    Author

    Peter Ninnes

    Peter Ninnes has lived and travelled extensively in Japan since 2005, initially as a tourist and then as a resident from 2007-2015. Apart from Japan, he has lived in East Timor, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the US. He currently calls Sydney, Australia home.

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      Book preview

      Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano - Peter Ninnes

      Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 16 Tours in Ueda City and Environs

      Peter Ninnes

      Smashwords Edition

      Text, Photographs and Graphics Copyright Peter Ninnes 2012

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Although the author has tried to make the information in this book as accurate as possible, the author accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone using this book.

      All photographs by Peter Ninnes.

      Also by this Author

      Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: 20 Nature, History and Culture Tours in Chikuma City

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      Tour Location Map

      Ueda and Sakaki Area

      1. Central Ueda City Walk/Ride

      2. Unnojuku Walk/Ride

      3. Mt Taro Hike

      4. Mt Daidou Hike

      5. Ikushima Tarushima Shrine and Mt Higashi Hike

      Bessho Onsen Area

      6. Bessho Onsen Walk/Ride

      7. Shioda Plains Walk/Ride

      8. Mt Ogami Hike

      9. Mt Tokko Hike

      Aoki Village Area

      10. Mt Juukan and Mt Otaka Hike

      11. Mt Komayumi Hike

      Maruko Area

      12. Maruko Castle Park and Temples Walk

      Sugadaira Kogen

      13. Mt Azumaya and Mt Neko Hike

      Yunomaru Kogen

      14. Mt Eboshi and Mt Yunomaru Hike

      15. Mt Kagonoto and Mt Mizunoto Hike

      Komoro City Area

      16. Nunobiki Temple and Komoro Castle Park Hike

      Acknowledgments

      About the Author

      Introduction

      Back to Contents

      Ueda City is the third largest city in Nagano Prefecture and offers a wealth of hiking, walking and bike riding opportunities. Located in the eastern part of the prefecture just 90 minutes from Tokyo, its combination of forested mountains, cool highland areas, farmland, and city neighborhoods provides a fascinating variety of areas to explore.

      The central part of the city, covered in Tour 1, is built on alluvial terraces adjacent to the Chikuma River. From the 16th century until the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century, Ueda was a castle town. The ruling lords were initially from the Sanada Clan, which rose to fame by successfully repelling successive attacks by the Tokugawa clan during the latter’s attempts during the late 16th century to gain control over all of Japan. The six circles in two rows of three that are seen on many items in the souvenir stores are the family crest of the Sanadas. After being defeated by the Tokugawas at the third attempt, the Sanadas were banished to Matsushiro in what is now southeastern Nagano City, and the castle became occupied by the Sengoku clan for most of the Edo era. The latter period was a time of relative peace and prosperity. The Tokugawa shoguns developed and extended the national system of roads as a means of political control and developing commerce. One important road, The Hokkoku Kaido or Northern National Road, ran from the Nakasendo road in the south of current Nagano Prefecture, through the Chikuma River valley to Nagano City, and on to what is currently Niigata Prefecture. Parts of this road have been preserved or restored, and many historic buildings and working businesses can be seen in the Yanagi-machi section of Ueda City (Tour 1) and in the Unnojuku residential area in what is now Tomi City (Tour 2).

      To the north and west of downtown Ueda City can be found the range of mountains that begins with the active volcano Mt Asama near Karuizawa Town, and ends in a series of ridges sloping down to the Zenkouji Plain in Nagano City. One mountain in this range, Mt Taro (Tour 3) is the prominent peak just to the northwest of downtown Ueda, and the short, energetic hike to the top provides excellent views of the city and surrounding plains and mountains. Further north, the hike to the top of Mt Daidou, accessed from Sakaki Town, is a rarely traversed course that provides solitude as well as good views down to the valley floor.

      Across the river from downtown Ueda, the low hills of Mt Higashi (Tour 5) separate the main river valley from the Shioda Plains and Bessho Onsen to the west. This hike starts at the historic Ikushimu Tarushima shrine, which houses the guardian deities of Japan. From there it proceeds up to Myojin Rock, where excellent panoramas can be experienced. In the distance can be seen the famous hotsprings town of Bessho Onsen (Tour 6), whose springs are said to have been in use for two millennia. Apart from the hot springs, the settlement has a number of beautiful temples, one of which includes Japan’s only octagonal pagoda.

      To the west of Bessho Onsen, the conical peak of Mt Ogami (Tour 8) is easily accessible from the town, and the best views back towards central Ueda are from the pavilion just below the summit. To the south-east of Bessho Onsen, the Shioda Plains (Tour 7) are also home to a number of unique and important shrines and temples. The walk around this area takes in some pleasant farmland, as well as the quiet solitude of the temple and shrine grounds at the base of the rugged Mt Tokko (Tour 9). The views on a clear day from the top of the latter are quite inspiring.

      A very beautiful and peaceful hike starts just above Tazawa Onsen in Aoki

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