I got a new guide map of Yahiko-yama area at the road station of Kugami yesterday. It was made this year by people who loved Yahiko-yama and was published by the Ecology Network. It is sold at the information center in front of Yahiko station for 300 yen as well.

  I knew of this map on the news paper on March 7 in 2008. Everything was written in detail on the map, ranging from logging tracks to hiking trails. It included the sight, the course guides and flora in this area. It will be useful for me and all hikers who would like to go hiking to this area.

  Unluckily Kakuda-yama, one of mountains in this area, isn't taken up in this map, because Kakuda-yama belongs to Niigata City, not to Yahiko Village.

  After I bought the two maps, one is for me and the other is for my wife, I tried to climb Yahiko-yama from Hachimai-gawa point, situated on the way to Yahiko skyline road. I'm supposed to organize a plan to climb the same route in April with the members of senior hiking club.

  This trail has been designated Hokuriku Nature Hiking Trail by Environmental Agency.

  It was made on the south slope of Yahiko-yama and snow melted faster until the seven stage. There were quite a few Yukiwari-so (Snow-cutting flower) on the slope beginning to open in places. They were very pretty. This flower became to be prefectural flower of Niigata this year(2008).

  From the car park I went down to the bottom of a water fall and up to a small clearing where there was a junction. Trail right (straight) climbed a steep rugged ridge to the top of Yahiko-yama directly. Trail left crossed a stream and went up to the main ridge from where it headed for the top.

  There was another junction on the main ridge. I chose a right trail continuing to Yahiko-yama. The left trail is the way to lead to Amagoi-yama.

  The trail stayed on the main ridge and climbed gently up and down a few peaks through a beautiful forest. In April there would be a lot of flowers carpeting under the trees.

  Soon I reached an open area of the seven stage. I found another trail coming up from the left side. It is called Yahiko-yama back trail and coming up from Saisyo-zi (temple). Yahiko Skyline Road touched here as well.

  We went off the paved road and climbed a right ridge. The trail was mostly covered with snow when I made my hike at the beginning of March.

  A 15 minute steady climb took me to the flat section called Notomi-daira. Here is the nine stage with a good view of The Japan Sea. I passed by a big antenna station and made the last climbing for the top.

  On the summit there was a fine shrine and an open area around it, and it was surrounded with a stone fence. A great view of Bunsui River and The Japan Sea could be seen from the fence. I took the Hokuriku Nature Hiking Trail and made the way down back to the car park.