Oishi Highland

What?
Oishi Highland or Oishi Kogen (生石高原) is a plateau most famous for the Japanese pampas grass that covers most of its area. The top is called Oishigamine (生石ヶ峰) and from this 870 meters high point a 360 degrees panorama beautifully maps the Suzuka mountain range, the pacific ocean and Awaji Island. The nearby Aragijima rice terraces (あらぎ島) are rice fields built on a small rounded bulge of the Arida River. The borrowed mountain scenery makes it look simply fantastic in any season.
Where?
Located in north-central Wakayama Prefecture, a car is the best way – the only way - to reach Oishi Highland, the trailhead of the hike and the Aragijima rice terraces. The trailhead is located a little beyond the small Ogawa Farmer’s Shop (小川の郷直売所) next to which you can park your car.
URL
Visit Wakayama (Oishi Highland) Visit Wakayama (Aragjima Rice Terraces)

I planned a loop hike to the top of Mount Oishi as I believe it’s more fun than to pass the same route twice. This time however I was not alone, and the sign that claimed one part of the loop was inaccessible put off some people of my party. It’s no use to claim that this or that website said the road was free again, as the most important thing is that you can climb with peace of mind and everyone is happy.
At the end of the hike I can’t say though that everyone of the group was happy… two of them were near dead tired.

Personally I didn’t find the climb all that hard, but it is a fact that the road only goes up, without gentle parts where you can catch your breath should you need it. If you find the right pace this shouldn’t be a big problem as the mountain is not that high. But that’s of course the problem with hiking in a group: everyone has a different pace.
Another element that might have contributed to the tiredness of my companions is that there was no point during the ascent where you were awarded with some nice views or some peculiar rocks or caves to enjoy. It was a 2 hour ascent mostly through forest, a small part on asphalt, with not much distraction apart from a barking dog or two. So in short, it was really a 2 hour climb in the hope there would be something to see at the top.

At the top I knew a reward would come. The Oishi Highland is known for its Japanese pampas grass and it would be exactly the right season. And sure, when seeing the sight of a golden field swaying with the (ice cold) wind, some energy rejoined my fellows. The clouds also parted just enough to let in some sunshine that beautifully lit up some valleys in the mountains surrounding us. Those same clouds were also still high enough so we could see all the way to the sea and Awaji Island. We enjoyed spying on some cosplayers and posing on the nearby rock-cliff. We took our time – Oishi Highland is after all a very nice place to be during the high season; it’s beautiful but not too crowded.
The cold wind however made our hands and ears freeze and we decided to go back down. I briefly suggested completing my original loop-hike plan by descending the way we should have gone up, but the general consensus was to hike down back the way we came from.
That was probably the right thing to do, as halfway the road down clouds packed together and finally released the rain that we saw on the top was coming. Passing a route you already know makes it easier and faster to go down and take refuge in the car.

The way up through the forest.

A little shrine at the top.

Ominous clouds over the golden Japanese pampas grass fields.

A view all the way to the sea.

I like the outdoors and a good climb is always welcome. However in the case of Oishi Highland taking the car to the top is a valid alternative. The climb towards the top is not exactly enthralling, and as the top of the mountain is also accessible by car… well, you wouldn’t have missed a lot. Coming by car also allows you to pass by the nearby Aragijima Rice terraces, gorgeous even in the complete off-season.

Eventually we finished the day playing a bunch of boardgames deep into the night. The stoves heated up the traditional farmhouse we stayed in, and the beer heated up our heads so the games became easier over time, and the memory of the hike turned into a rather good one.