Hiking Mt. Oyama in Kanagawa

Between its tourist town bottom and its desolate peak, Mt. Oyama is a hike for a true lover of nature. The trail juts more than it winds, and has unstable, rocky footing that is treacherous after a good rain. "Dramatic" is a word that comes to mind. It is scenic in a way that many mountains are not, featuring towering trees with swarming exposed roots that are more than a little octopus-like. The peak is an exposed, windswept bare spot that leaves hikers huddled together, eyes squinting against the howling wind as they silently work on eating their packed lunches. It's not a terribly difficult climb, but it's a wild one for sure.