🍁 Kanagawa, Japan　A Perfect Easy Hike for Beginners — My Relaxed 50s Getaway to Mt. Zukkō

癒しと散策/Healing & Walks

Just 15 minutes from the parking lot to the summit. Fall colors, quiet trails, and a touch of history.

Visited: November 23, 2025 (Peak Autumn Colors)
Reading Time: ~11–12 minutes
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ (Sneakers OK / Beginner & Dog-Friendly)

📌 Who This Hike Is Perfect For

  • You want a mountain with “just enough challenge” — not a punishing climb
  • You want to enjoy autumn leaves at a slow, relaxed pace
  • You prefer a short-up, short-down, time-efficient hike
  • You’re hiking with a dog or family and want a safe trail
  • You need free parking + a restroom
  • You want a low mountain but still want beautiful views

💡 Conclusion:

For people in their 50s, this small mountain offers big comfort.

Mt. Zukkō delivers that perfect balance of
“Don’t push too hard” × “Still want real nature.”

  • Just 15 minutes from the parking lot to the summit
  • Well-maintained trails
  • Surprisingly beautiful autumn colors
  • Clear views of the Tanzawa mountain range
  • A small mountain with a surprisingly deep history

Even after work… even on a low-energy morning…
This place feels like a reward.

⭐Why I Chose This Mountain That Day

Once you hit your 50s, there are days when you don’t want a full-on hike.
You just want to breathe some autumn air.

That day was exactly that.
I wanted the colors, the fresh air…
but not the exhaustion.

Mt. Zukkō turned out to be the perfect answer.

⭐ The Hike Was My Wife’s Idea

It was the morning of November 23rd.
I was frozen at my desk, thinking:

“I’ve got no blog ideas today…”

My wife glanced over and casually said:
“Why don’t we try Mt. Zukkō?”

I hadn’t heard the name before (it’s pronounced Zukkō).
But a mountain means good blog material, and our Shiba dog Momiji can join.

So off we went—
and it turned out to be the best idea of the week.

⭐ Access: 15 Minutes to the Summit

🚗 Free Parking (Search “Zukkō-yama Parking”)

🅿️ Zutkoyama Parking Lot (Google Maps)

  • Free
  • Unpaved, about 10 cars
  • Trailhead is right in front
  • Clear signboards

The sign proudly said:

“Mt. Zukkō Summit — 1.2 km / 15 minutes”

Screenshot

At that point I knew…
“Yep, today’s gonna be easy.” 😄

🚻 Restroom

A restroom is located 3–4 minutes from the parking area.

  • Exterior looks clean
  • Likely standard water-flush restroom
  • Comfortable for a low mountain trail

🐕 Dog-Friendly Notes (Momiji’s Report)

  • Narrow spots exist but no dangerous areas
  • The left route has more stairs
  • No ticks or leeches in November
  • Momiji walked happily the whole way

🚉 rain Access

From Odakyu Line – Shibusawa Station, you can walk to the trailhead.
Popular among locals for light hiking and daily walks.

⭐ Two Main Routes (We Picked the Left One)

Right at the start, the trail splits:

Left: Toward summit
Right: Toward viewpoint

We picked the left, simply because it felt right that morning.

🌿 Left Route (Our Route)

  • More stairs, a shortcut
  • Fastest path to the summit
  • Less scenery
  • Perfect for time-savvy hikers

My honest thoughts:
“Okay, this is fine… maybe a little out of breath, but fine.” 😅
And the fallen leaves made every step feel like autumn.

🌄 Right Route (Next Time!)

  • Gentle gravel path
  • A nice viewpoint with farm scenery
  • Ideal for beginners, families, photo lovers

🔍 Quick Comparison

RouteFeaturesDifficultySceneryBest For
LeftStairs, shortest★★☆☆☆★☆☆☆☆Quick hike, low energy
RightGentle, viewpoint★☆☆☆☆★★★☆☆Families, photos

Both are safe, simple, and beginner-friendly.
That’s the real charm of Mt. Zukkō.

⭐ At the Summit: Fall Colors + Quiet + Big Views

⛩ Torii Gate & Shrine

A small shrine greets you at the top.
Simple, peaceful, calming.

🌄 Surprisingly Wide Views

You can see:

  • Tanzawa Ridge
  • Mt. Ōyama
  • Mt. Tōno-dake
  • Mt. Sannoto / Ninoto
  • On clear days: Mt. Fuji & Sagami Bay

For a low mountain, this openness is impressive.

🛖 Rest Area

  • Azumaya pavilion
  • Plenty of benches
  • Soft layer of fallen leaves

It honestly felt like sitting in a Japanese-style “autumn room.”
 Momiji also sat quietly, staring at the scenery like a little philosopher.

📝 Why the Elevation Has Two Numbers

You’ll see two heights:

  • 203 m = triangulation point (survey marker)
  • 303 m = highest natural point

Survey markers are placed where easy—not always on the highest land.
Fuji is one of the rare cases where everything lines up neatly.

⭐A Mountain Full of History

For such a small mountain, the stories are rich.

  • Name origin: round shape like a “head”
  • Old travel road: Yagurasawa Ōkan
  • Princess legend connected to beacon fires
  • Kobo Daishi’s sacred spring “Suzuri-mizu”
  • Akiba Shrine dedicated to the Fire God

Walking there made me think:
“People have walked this small mountain with meaning for centuries.”
 My steps naturally became a little more careful.

⭐Nearby Hot Spring

♨️ Kōbō-no-Satoyu Hot Spring (Google Maps)　🏞️ Hadano City Official Website (Kobo-no-Satoyu)

If you love hot springs,
Kōbō no Sato-yu is the classic one in Hadano.

I’ve been there before, so I skipped it this time—
but it’s perfect for first-time visitors.

⭐Final Thoughts

Mt. Zukkō surprised me in the best way.

  • 15 minutes to the summit
  • Beautiful fall colors
  • Rich little stories from history
  • Dog- and beginner-friendly
  • Zero stress, full satisfaction

It’s the perfect “just right” mountain for those of us in our 50s.
I’ll definitely come again with my wife and Momiji.

📍 Basic Information

Mt. Zukkō (頭高山 / Zukkō-yama)

  • Location: Hadano City, Kanagawa
  • Elevation: 203.4 m (survey point) / ~303 m (highest point)
  • Hiking Time: ~15 min from parking lot
  • Difficulty: Beginner
  • Best Seasons: Spring (double cherry blossoms), Autumn (fall colors)
  • Parking: Free — search “頭高山駐車場 / Zukkō-yama Parking”

🌎 Recommended Reads for Gentle 50s Hikers

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