The Miune – Tenguzuka Traverse Part 3 | To Mt Nishikuma and Okameiwa Hut | まるごと三好観光ポータルメディア

The Miune – Tenguzuka Traverse Part 3 | To Mt Nishikuma and Okameiwa Hut

2022.07.03

With some of the best hiking trails in Shikoku, the mountains surrounding Miyoshi City’s Iya Valley are where to go if looking for panoramic views and tranquil nature. In this multi-part series, we detail an intermediate yet challenging two day trekking route that is accessible by public bus, with staying overnight in one of the mountain-ridge huts.

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The Miune & Tenguzuka Traverse Part 2 | Climbing the Mighty Mt Miune
The Miune & Tenguzuka Traverse Part 1 | A Two-Day Hike in the Shikoku Mountains

Iya’s South Ridge Trail

After a bit of a break on top of Mt Miune, I followed the trail to the west off of the summit.

A different trail goes off Miune summit to the south which then follows the ridge eastward to Mt Tsurugi. That route and the route explained here to Mt Tenguzuka can be combined to create a longer 3 day trek if you prefer. An article about that Tsurugi – Miune route can be found here:

https://miyoshi-city.jp/2021/10/10096/

But before setting off from Miune I put on a pair of long pants. I had hiked up in shorts since it was pretty warm, but for the next sections of the hike the trail goes through knee-high “sasa” grass, which has thick broad leaves and would scratch you legs considerably if not covered.

The trail westward goes down Miune peak for only a couple minutes and then goes up another small hill. The whole area is treeless, with only rolling pastures of sasa grass and expansive views beyond.

Engulfed by mountains

The trail then meandered slowly downward upon the rounded ridge. It was worth looking back once in a while to take in the beauty of Mt Miune, the sides of which were currently dotted with lots of blooming pink azalea bushes.

Perhaps one of the prettiest sections of the entire Iya South Ridge Trail, the views along here were endless.

Off to the north it was also possible here to see the Iya Valley village of Kubo (tomorrow’s destination) and historic Ochiai Village just beyond it on the hillside.

Ascending Mt Nishikuma

About a half hour from Mt Miune the trail reaches a low point, and then the slow climb up Mt Nishikuma begins.

The climb up is not too steep and it takes about 30 more minutes to reach the 1816 meter top of Mt Nishikuma.

The views continued to be superfluously wonderful, and I took an extended break up here since this would be the final highpoint of the day. Looking further west along the trail, the triangular summit of Mt. Tenguzuka popped up just between the hills of the ridge.

Reaching Okameiwa Hut

From the top of Mt Nishikuma the trail goes steadily down for about 20 minutes and at the broad low-point a sign points off the ridge to the east for Okameiwa Hut.

Looking off the edge of the ridge the distinct red roof of the large wood hut immediately came into view, and the path down to it takes only a couple minutes.