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Mount. Hōman stands at 829m and is located about 15 km south east of the centre of Fukuoka, in the historic city of Dazaifu. It prospered historically as a sacred training ground for practitioners of Shugendo¹, and at the foot of the mountain you will find Kamado Shrine, well known as the chunjusha², or tutelary shrine, of the ancient provincial capital. There is an indescribable sense of something sacred residing in the mountain.

On the morning of the hike, the group meets at Kamado Shrine. As a special feature of this HIKING CLUB, participants can try out the Altra x and wander Timp 5 BOA shoes during the hike. Excitement fills the air as everyone gets fitted.

¹ Literally the “Way [of] Trial [and] Practice”, Shugendo is a unique Japanese belief system of mountain asceticism that combines folk beliefs with Shinto, esoteric Buddhism, mountain worship and elements of Taoism.
² A Shinto shrine that enshrines a tutelary kami, or patron spirit of the area.

“The soles of these shoes are flat, which allows you to use your muscles in accordance with the natural balance of the human body,” explains Shota Takao, manager of STRIDE LAB Fukuoka, a specialized running shop. Mr Takao is a seasoned hiker himself, and will be joining the group as our guide today.

First, we head up a mountain path of stone steps, flanked on both sides by mossy earthen walls. “It’s like something out of a Ghibli film,” someone whispers and everyone agrees in unison as the group begins to come together and relax. As the cold mountain air brushes our skin, we are filled with anticipation for the rest of the climb that awaits us as we head deeper into the mountain.

We pass other fellow hikers as we climb—some are regulars who climb the mountain 3 or 4 times or week, others are hiking with their families—and we catch a glimpse of how this ‘mountain of the people’ is loved by locals of all ages. It feels as if our HIKING CLUB is also being welcomed into this beloved mountain’s alpine embrace.

As we climb the rugged and uneven stone steps, we can hear the distant sound of water. We take a short break by a watering hole fed by fresh spring water. We can feel our sweaty skin relax in the cool refreshing air.

Camellia flowers, which were just recently in full bloom, have been delicately placed in cracks between rocks or on tree stumps. The subtle beauty of such mountain decorations helps us to forget the fatigue of the climb. It’s heart-warming to discover the playful tracks left behind by those who have climbed the mountain before us.

As we tackle challenging steep climbs, these shoes offer steady support for our feet. Their excellent cushioning absorbs the shock from the rocky surfaces, while the shoes themselves are lightweight, making each step feel lighter. They enable us to grip firmly with our toes, even on steep stone steps or rocky surfaces, and their traction and fit are strong allies on our hike.

We call out to encourage each other for the final push of effort, as we face the steep 100-step stone stairway, one determined step at a time. The participants laugh together as they wipe the sweat from their foreheads and catch their breath—“phew!”. Maybe it is the shared experience of hiking together that enables us to make it to the top.

Our breath is taken away by the overbearing presence of enormous rugged boulders, but there’s no turning back and we keep our minds on the view that awaits us beyond them. We continue up and up, grabbing the rope hand-over-hand, almost clinging to the rocks themselves. We transform the challenge into curiosity and excitement as we forge on ahead.

The moment we reach the summit our field of vision immediately expands and we are filled with an exhilarating sense of accomplishment and freedom. The panoramic view is incredible, and as our eyes look out over the city to the sea beyond, all the exhaustion we felt just a moment ago dissolves into the wind.

It’s a HIKING CLUB tradition for everyone to enjoy a lunch together, which is prepared by and wander staff. Today is no exception and staff await the group with three kinds of sandwich and freshly ground coffee. Carefully hand-dripped into a Nalgene bottle, the hot coffee gently warms us at the chilly mountain peak.

Lively conversation fills the group as they share highlights from the hike and exchange mountain tips. Before we know it, the group have all become friends, and this mountaintop encounter has blossomed into new connections. These newly forged friendships are another of the joys of hiking.

On the descent we discover another face of the mountain. The soft touch of the moss soothes us, and we are once again impressed by the powerful vitality of the trees. The participants talk about how “seeing plants flourishing in all their diversity makes you reflect on your own life”.
This time in nature helps us to reconnect with our human senses—we feel the changing of the seasons, hear the chorus of bird song, sense the change in humidity, notice the smell of the wind, and hear the sound of the tree leaves rustling in the wind. We reclaim these sensations that so often go unnoticed when we are in the city.

This hiking event in Fukuoka has left us all captivated by the harsh yet beautiful world of Mount. Hōman. After the group parts ways with smiles and promises of “let’s meet again”, a glance up at Mount. Hōman from the car window on the way home and we are reminded that just a few hours ago we all stood on that peak and filled with a sense of familiarity and achievement. Perhaps it’s this very feeling that will guide us to our next hiking trip.

Now that and wander FUKUOKA has opened, HIKING CLUB looks forward to expanding its activities in Kyushu and Fukuoka—regions that shows us a new and different face for each season. Stay tuned for our next HIKING CLUB adventure.