Reading Time: About 9 minutes
Introduction
You know those mornings when it’s just cold.
The kind of day when simply stepping outside takes a bit of determination.
Plans don’t move just because you hesitate.
You stand at the door thinking,
“Should I go… or maybe not?”
That was exactly me that day.
Cloudy skies.
Light snow falling.
0°C.
The moment I reached the bus stop, I honestly thought,
“Am I really walking in this kind of weather?”
But in the end, I’m glad I did.
There were no dramatic views. Mt. Fuji never appeared.
Still, what remained with me were the river, the flowers, the birds, the wind —
and a Lunch Pack.
This article is a complete record of the day, including timestamps, distance markers, and pacing.
It captures what it actually feels like to walk this route from Tateishi to Kinugasa.
Who This Is For
- Those who want to understand the Mt. Okusu → Kinugasa route through real walking logs
- Anyone wondering, “Is winter hiking just cold and miserable?”
- People in their 50s noticing temperature swings — too hot, too cold
- Readers who prefer ordinary walkers’ experiences over tourist brochures
- Anyone who can’t get out from under the kotatsu but wants a small change
Conclusion (What I Noticed)
Even on days that aren’t perfect,
if you walk,
you’ll carry something unique from that day.That’s how I felt.
Route Overview & Pace (Actual Log: 08:23–12:32)
Before the main story,
here is a numerical overview of the route.
Based entirely on actual logs.
Course
Tateishi Bus Stop
→ Maedagawa Promenade
→ Mt. Okusu
→ Kinugasa Castle Ruins / Daizenji
→ Kinugasa-yama Park
→ Kinugasa Station
(Yokosuka / Miura Peninsula crossing route)
Total Distance
Approx. 11.5 km
(including detours and summit wandering)
Total Time
4 hours 09 minutes
(including breaks, lunch, and photos)
Moving Time
Approx. 3 hours 30 minutes
Average Pace
Standard to slightly fast
(Smooth on flat and downhill, steady on climbs)
Cumulative Elevation Gain
Up: approx. 480m / Down: approx. 470m
(Mt. Okusu 242m + Kinugasa-yama 134m + rolling terrain)
Restroom Information (Confirmed That Day)
Tateishi Park (08:23)
Used before departure. Close to the bus stop. A reassuring start.
Near the Mt. Okusu Rain Radar Observation Tower (09:58)
One unit each for men and women. Relatively clean exterior.
Ecomill (Yokosuka Waste Processing Facility) (10:40)
Impressive wooden-style building. A good place to rest properly.
Kinugasa Station (12:32)
Restrooms available inside the station.
Only locations personally confirmed are listed.
Detailed Hiking Log
Before Starting: Cloudy, Light Snow, 0°C
It was cold.
But once you start walking, you warm up.
This contradiction continued all day.
08:23 | Depart Tateishi Bus Stop
No Mt. Fuji, but a Helpful Restroom
Starting at Tateishi bus stop.
I checked the famous seaside rock near Tateishi Park.
Tried to see Mt. Fuji — but the clouds won.
Used the restroom before starting.
It sounds minor, but it matters.
08:39 | Road Section
Kawazu Cherry Blossoms and Daffodils
Along the road, Kawazu cherry blossoms.
Japanese daffodils lining the roadside.
In winter air, flowers soften your mood.
08:41 | Distance Marker
0.8 km walked / 3.2 km to Mt. Okusu.
“Still 3.2 km?”
Or
“Only 3.2 km?”
Depends on the day.
08:43 | Maedagawa Promenade
Clear Water, a Heron, and Wooden Paths
Entered Maedagawa Promenade (1,380m long).
Despite running through town, the water was clean.
No unpleasant smell. Well maintained.
Stepping stones. Wooden walkways.
Simply enjoyable.
Then I saw a white heron.
It flew ahead of me, almost as if guiding the way.
“Over here.”
This section recorded my fastest pace.
Maybe the heron effect.
08:57 | End of Maedagawa Promenade
Mood shifts.
Time to climb.
09:06 | Start of Mt. Okusu Climb
Stairs, Heavy Breathing, Complaining Knees
Stairs. And more stairs.
“Still going?”
My knees began to protest.
Others in the group started removing layers, saying, “It’s hot!”
I wasn’t stripping down,
but my breathing was definitely heavy.
Snow outside. Not cold anymore.
The body is honest.
09:57 | Rain Radar Observation Tower
White tower. You can climb it.
Cloudy, but views toward the Aburatsubo coast.
Strong wind. Cold again.
Five minutes ago I was sweating.
Temperature management never rests.
09:58 | Restroom
One unit each for men and women.
3.1 km from Maedabashi Bus Stop / 0.2 km to Mt. Okusu.
10:04 | Mt. Okusu Summit
Open space suitable for lunch.
Observation deck closed due to aging.
Kawazu cherry blossoms blooming nearby.
10:07 | Start Descent Toward Kinugasa
10:40 | Ecomill (Yokosuka Waste Facility)
Impressive restroom building.
This felt like the real completion of Mt. Okusu.
From there, paths alongside a golf course.
Fallen leaves underfoot.
A sign warning of wild boars.
If I met one, I doubt I’d win.
11:16 | Arinkurin Forest
Chickens. Goats.
More Kawazu cherry blossoms.
The name “Arinkurin” has a strong ring to it.
Maybe that was just me.
11:20 | Passing Daizenji Temple
Didn’t enter this time.
But knowing it holds 1,300 years of history,
I felt its weight.
11:47 | Kinugasa-yama Summit
Cold Air and a Life-Saving Lunch Pack
Strong wind. Light snow.
Time for lunch.
Except — I had forgotten mine.
“I’ll eat after descending,” I had thought.
Careless middle-aged decision.
Then a friend quietly handed me a peanut-filled Lunch Pack.
He didn’t have much extra either.
Just convenience store bread.
But at that moment,
it tasted deeply of kindness.
Truly, thank you.
12:29 | Kinugasa Shopping Street
Arcade-style street near the station.
Showa-era atmosphere. Nostalgic.
Some delicious-looking diners.
Next time, maybe I’ll hike just for the food.
12:32 | Arrive at Kinugasa Station
Hike complete.
Final Thoughts
0°C. Light snow.
I hesitated.
But walking warmed my body.
The clear stream of Maedagawa.
The white heron.
Cherry blossoms and daffodils.
The wild boar warning sign.
The animals at Arinkurin.
The quiet weight of Daizenji.
And the Lunch Pack in the wind and snow.
Life might be similar.
Perfect timing rarely comes.
Weather, mood, physical condition — rarely aligned.
But perhaps only the days we move, even while hesitating,
remain in memory.
And the warmest thing that day?
Not the scenery.
It was the kindness of a friend.
If you’re hesitating because of something small — like cold weather —
You don’t have to push yourself too hard.
But maybe just one small step.
Well… that’s how it felt.
And yes — that Lunch Pack truly saved me.
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