This week’s hiking adventure took us to the charming town of Tarui, Gifu Prefecture, where Mount Nangu (404 meters) quietly watches over the land. My mother-in-law, Hiromi, and I set out early in the morning, driving to the foot of the mountain and parking at the beautiful Nangลซ Taisha Shrine. The shrine, with its traditional red structures and serene atmosphere, set the perfect tone for the journey ahead.
Joining us was Chappie, my mother-in-law’s energetic beagle. Excited by the fresh mountain air, Chappie ran ahead during our hike up. At one point, he disappeared from sight entirely. We spent a tense 30 minutes calling his name and searching along the trail. Fortunately, after many calls and searches, Chappie suddenly reappeared, running straight back to my mother-in-law as if nothing had happened, his tail wagging happily.
The hiking trail starts conveniently from the shrine grounds. It’s a well-maintained, moderately steep path that winds through lush forests. The trail is about 3.8 kilometers round-trip, making it a manageable hike while still offering a satisfying sense of adventure. As we climbed higher, the views slowly opened up, hinting at the panoramic reward waiting at the top.
Mount Nangu is not just a place of natural beautyโit’s steeped in history. During the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Mลri Hidemoto, a samurai warlord, used this very mountain as a strategic base camp. Imagining the historic scenes that once unfolded here added a special layer of meaning to our hike.
After a steady climb, we reached the summit. The 404-meter peak isn’t towering by any means, but it offers wide, sweeping views over the surrounding countryside and the distant Yลrล mountain range. On clear days, it’s even possible to see all the way to Nagoya from the summit. Unfortunately, despite having blue skies and sunshine during our hike, Nagoya wasn’t visible this time.
To celebrate reaching the summit, I decided to take out my DJI Avata 2 drone for a little flight. However, nature had other plans. It was incredibly windy at the summitโthe kind of gusts that make flying a drone both thrilling and nerve-wracking. I had to be extremely cautious, constantly monitoring the drone for any sudden signal dropouts and adjusting for the wind’s strong push. Despite the challenges, capturing the wide landscapes from the sky made the effort completely worth it.
To share the experience, I connected my iPhone to the DJI Goggles 3 so Hiromi and my mother-in-law could watch the breathtaking surrounding views in real-time while I flew the drone. It was wonderful seeing them enjoy the bird’s-eye perspective, making the moment even more special.
After soaking in the views and a few careful drone flights, we made our way back down the mountain, passing fellow hikers along the way, all exchanging friendly greetings. Chappie happily trotted along, seemingly unfazed by his earlier adventure.
The whole experience left us feeling recharged and grateful for another beautiful day spent in Gifu’s rich natural and historical landscape.
Mount Nangu might not be the tallest mountain, but it certainly holds its own with its serene beauty, historical significance, and accessible hiking trailโa perfect choice for our weekly hiking adventures.
Until next time!
Experiences - Life - Inspiration ๐จ๐ญ๐ฏ๐ต 
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