Mount Takao in suburban Tokyo draws throngs of visitors during the autumn hiking season. But not many may know that the number of hikers who become stranded on the modestly-sized peak has been rising in recent years.
Mount Takao was bustling with visitors including foreign tourists on Friday, enjoying the trek under sunny skies. The peak, roughly 600 meters high, can be accessed from central Tokyo in about one hour by train.
It is a popular destination for nature-loving day-trippers. However, the National Police Agency says 131 hikers got lost on the mountain last year, an increase of about 50 percent from the average of 86 in the preceding five years.
At an entrance of a mountain trail, a company that rents transmitters has set up a booth to show hikers what kind of gear they need. Nearby stores sell or rent climbing boots and thermal wear.
A staff member at a local hotel was telling a customer, who came to rent a pair of boots, that although the mountain is low, caution is necessary because of the steep slopes on the way.
Hikers have more to worry about. Bears have been spotted numerous times in the mountains of Tokyo this year.
A hiker in her 60s had a bell on her backpack. She said bear sightings have been reported in various parts of Japan, so she brought the chime to be safe. She said she saw several other hikers who apparently had the same idea.
AloJapan.com