The forest along Mikurube Forestry Road 三廻部林道 is designated as a water source forest by Kanagawa Prefecture, i.e. protected for nature conservation. My impression is, half the vegetation is afforested conifers and another half is of broad-leaved trees which is a mixture of evergreens and deciduous kinds. The route is paved for cars. The surface of the road is sometimes covered by fallen leaves or the like, but at least as of November 2021 there is no disruption by landslides. Compared with the other forestry roads in Tanzawa 丹沢, Mikurube Forestry Road is relatively less steep. Almost entire route has crash barriers. In short, your itinerary with Mikurbe Road is a nice mountain stroll on a paved way. Having said that, as this is a road running on a surface of sharp Tanzawa Mountains, the valleys beyond guard rail are precipitous and deep. If you’re with your adventurous kids, you’d better be watchful especially when they try to cross the barrier.
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| When we walk from Entrance to Omote-Tanzawa Citizen Forest Bus Stop 表丹沢県民の森入口, we first find the sign for the beginning of Mikurube Forestry Road, then, |
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| there
is a sign at the junction with Kami-Hadano Forestry Road 上秦野林道 (which is to Omote-Tanzawa Citizen Forest) showing the direction of Mikurube Road. Here, we take the road on our left. |
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| The
gate is after the above signpost. Could you see it over there at the end of this photo? |
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| We can walk the route in this condition. |
As this is a quiet paved road, it’s easy doing plant observation party along Mikurube Road. The trees we often encounter in our walk may tell typical geological condition of Tanzawa. Ainus pendula, Euptelea polyandra Soeb. Et Zucc., and Japanese walnut (Jaglans mandshurica) are very common. Ainus pendula is a pioneer plant thriving on a scree slope where they can enjoy lots of sunshine with a smaller number of competitors. Euptelea polyandra and Japanese walnut love humid banks of streams. Such trees suggest fragile soil of Tanzawa with lots of rains. Mountainside of the Mikurube Forestry Road is often treated against rockfall, but mantle vegetation-like scenery covers man-made stonewalls. Solanum lyratum shows off their bright red berries in fall. Jack-in-the-pulpits are here and there in early summer. If you love nature, you’ll enjoy your weekend here searching for interesting things.
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| A scenery of forest along Mikurube Forestry Road |
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| Euptelea polyandra, early summer |
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| Stephanandra
incisa is
dangling from the slope, early summer |
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| Large Caesalpinia
sepiaria var. japonica, coiling itself from the bottom of the valley |
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| Youngia
denticulata,
another pioneer plant for scree slope and the last flower before Christmas |
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| Rhus
sylvestris began turning red in early November. |
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| Observing
Mt. Toh 塔ノ岳 (ASL 1491m) from Mikurube Forestry Road. Could you figure out the front of this photo shows clear-cut logging? The afforested area needs tending by foresters to maintain biodiversity. Humans harvest logs from such part, carry the logs via the forestry road. |
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| Wild Japanese lentian in Mikurube Forestry Road |
Actually, not only plants, but also animals we meet in Mikurube Forestry Road. When a quiet mountainous road is easy for humans to walk, so as for animals. Here, finding their footprints is easy on the road-side slopes. During spring to early summer, we hear tweets of Himalayan cuckoo or Blue-and-white flycatcher. The other day, when we finished our lunch and prepared to resume our walk, we noticed our rest was observed by a curious Japanese serow situated himself (er, I though it was “he”) on a slope just above our heads. If you’re seeking a chance to watch spider cubs helter-skelter in all directions, you may poke one of kindergartens of 8-legged kids on a moss-covered crash barrier. It’s purely a fun!
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| Hi there. |
Whichever gate you choose to start walking Mikurube Forestry Road, it’s one way route in quiet forest. As long as you keep yourself on a paved road, you’ll never lose the way. Admitting, to enjoy this road we have problems for the access to the entrance. But, if you have a chance, especially with kids and illustrated reference books for fields, please try. I bet you can satisfy you and your family’s appetite for nature observation in Tanzawa Mountains. Ainus pendula and Euptelea polyandra Soeb. Et Zucc. flower early in spring. In this world of global warming, we may find their flowers in February, or even in January …
If you find environmental issues in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a contact with Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター
657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121
〒243－0121 厚木市七沢657
Phone: 046-248-0323
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