Getting there

Get to this hike by first driving to the Mt. Myogi michi no eki, here you can park your car and then take the short walk to Mt. Myogi Shrine were the hike begins. 

Route/Trail notes

First walk to the top of the stairs at Mt. Myogi Shrine and continue to the far right side where you will see a warning sign advising that only experienced hikers should advance. From here, it is very well signed. First you will go up towards the big "dai" sign. Along this path there is some minor scrambling which should not present too much of an issue. The first real scramble you'll have is as you approach the "dai" sign. You scale an almost verticle cliff face (aided by chains) to reach the sign. Take some pictures and then descend down.

From here traverse towards Oku no in. After this point the scrambling becomes far more intense and longer. After Oku no in (a temple inside of a cave), you will have a lengthy scramble up what is essentially a verticle cliff face. This section is not exposed, but falling would mean your imminent death. There are plenty of grooves in the rocks and little bits of protruding rock for you to find foot holes and shouldn't provide too much of an issue. Coming down is a lot more difficult, especially at the end section. 

After clearing this, you are in for a treat as you get your first real views and it is stunning to say the least. Rocken, barren, epic sweeping landscapes. 

But the next section will really test your bravery as as you continue towards Soumadake along the ridge of the mountain, you will approach a traverse along a completely exposed rock face where falling means you fall off the whole mountain. Here there are chains to assist you and in places, foot holds are not great. It is recommended to put your weight against the chain and lean back to slowly advance across the cliff edge and then upwards to the next ridge. Nothing technical is required, just don't let go. 

After this there is a bit of a flat walk through some scrub until you reach what looks like the most insane rock you've ever seen. Just a thin bit of rock jutting out of the side of a cliff. There is a chain to assist you to reach the top of this section, but just looking at it is enough to turn off many hikers. Lets just say you wouldn't want to be up there if a strong gust of wind came. However, looks can be fooling and this particular scramble isn't as bad as it looks. Just keep focused on your legs and the chain and you should be alright. 

At the top of this rock you will have another amazing view.

From this point onwards you can continue to Souba-dake, the highest point of Mt. Myogi; however, we didn't have the balls. As after this section you scramble down a verticle cliff face only to scale up another to reach the next point. Maybe some day we will go back when we have gloves and a helmet (as my hands starting slipping from sweat). 

Follow same path back down back to Mt. Myogi Shrine.