Motegi – A Landscape I’d Rather Not Share (Kamakurayama Edition)

When people hear “Motegi,” they usually think of Mobility Resort Motegi.
But in our household, the true champion is the northern part of Motegi.

Driving east from Utsunomiya Station along Kinu Street, I cross the Yanagida Bridge and pass Honda’s R&D center.

Turning left at Ichikai Town, I enter a quiet rural area.
Gentle curves, green hills, scattered farmhouses, and golden rice fields—this is the original Japanese countryside.

After parking at Oose Park, it’s a five-minute walk to the trailhead.

A chorus of cicadas so intense, it seems to soak into the mountain leaves.

Despite the sign saying “walking trail,” the path includes steep steps and narrow sections.
The heat and my pounding heart make me nervous.
My impatient companion walks ahead, but I’m not ready to leave this world just yet.
I climb carefully, tapping each stone like a cautious traveler.
After about 15 minutes, I reach the cliffside viewpoint.

The view from Kamakurayama is breathtaking—like a divine painting of heavenly farmland.
It blurs the line between dream and reality.
Even without the famous sea of clouds, it’s stunning.
You can’t help but whisper “thank you.”

From late autumn to early winter, the morning mist often creates a magical cloud sea.
While Mt. Fuji and Takeda Castle are well-known for this, Kamakurayama boasts a high chance of seeing it during the season.

No one knows for sure why it’s called Kamakurayama.
Some say the cliffs resemble those in Kamakura.
One theory links it to Hatta Tomoie, an aggressive and mysterious warrior from the Kamakura period, who was appointed as the local governor in 1180.

"Satoyama" is a traditional area in Japan where people live close to nature. They manage forests and farmland to support both their lives and the animals that live there.

Let’s not forget the quiet efforts of local people who protect this beautiful satoyama, living in harmony with nature.