Hiking to Taura

I posted a blog about the hike to this place before, but now the Point Course has re-opened at the Taura Ume no Sato (田浦梅の里)!

I never actually saw the original Point Course, but the first time I hiked up there was in early March and this new course wasn't finished yet. I thought it was just going to be a children's park.

There were some school kids competing against each other.

A map of the point course and plum grove. They also hand out free maps at the park. I posted a picture of the map at the end of this blog entry.

The hike is very beautiful!

A peak at the Yokohama-Yokosuka Expressway from the ridge line trail.

Looking down on Tokyo Wan. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it was taken from just behind the Taura Umenosato sign.
If you are in need of refreshment on your way down from the Taura Athletic park, why not get a beer (machine on the right) or, something a little stronger. The sake vending machine is on the left.

We began our hike at the JR Higashi-Zushi Station. Take the pedestrian bridge to cross 24. When the road T's at the school, follow it to the left. There is a sign on the school's fence that reads, "ハイキングコース” (hiking course). That sign points the way, but you're basically going to the back of the school. There is a partially hidden wooden sign that reads, "二子山" (Mt. Futago). Follow the trail up and keep following the signs for Taura. Eventually there is a sign that has a little English written on it for Taura Plum Grove. That's where the point course is.

This is the map they give out at the park.

If you want to go to the point course without all the hiking (there will still be some!), it is about a 25 minute walk from the JR Taura Station... so they say. We came down from the plum grove and just took a bus home rather than hike to the train.