Go and read part one and two if you haven’t yet!
ABT-Ichishiro to Sumatakyo
The last stop for this leg was Sumatakyo Onsen, where the girls visit a couple cafes and Yume no Tsuribashi (The Suspension Bridge of Dreams!).
I set off back through the long and dark tunnel towards the train station.
I witnessed a train coupling but had to wait – this train was going in the wrong direction. I’d have to wait for it to reach the top and come back down again.
Eventually my train arrived and I hopped back on for only one stop down the valley. I got a cool ticket where the conductor marked where I was getting on and off.
I got off at the stop where I would be taking the bus up to Sumatakyo. The staff manning the station were kindly concerned for me as I was waiting a long time, and made sure I knew the time for my bus. I sat in a waiting room accompanied by a drinks fridge and a life-sized cut-out of what I can only assume is the Oigawa Railways mascot.
About 10 minutes from when my bus was due I went up to wait by the shelter.
The road was long and windy, and I had to be careful not to look at my phone so I didn’t get motion sick.
Sumatakyo Onsen
Eventually we arrived, and I hopped off. The bus looked very similar to the one shown in the anime here.
There was a short bit of railway track with a tiny old car on it. I assume this is left over from when the railway used reached this little village. A shame as it would have been nice to take up here too.
I turned and started on my way up the hill.
There were other Japanese tourists about also visiting. Not sure if they were Yuru Camp fans though 😛
I passed by a gift shop of some sort and had a little peek inside.
One restaurant had a big Rin Shima tapestry outside. The girls actually have a meal here on the way back from the bridge! Cool to see these dotted about at the various locations.
I found the inn that the biker girls stop off at for a wash.
Right opposite was another restaurant that Nadeshiko grabs a bite to eat at.
Of course I had to order what she ordered the fried potato mochi, alongside a bowl of cold soba noodles with grated yam as I was in need of a proper lunch. The place was being manned by a group of loud but friendly old women, with a great atmosphere. It was super yummy (and vegan!)
After consuming my food I passed by the desserts café. Unfortunately the foot hot spring section was closed and I was super full so I didn’t get anything (I wish I did though)
Opposite the café was a funny cut out thing for photos.
I kept on walking through the town towards the Yume no Tsuribashi – Suspension Bridge of Dreams.
No walking sticks were available though 😦
I didn’t spot any monkeys but there were these huge nets to stop falling rocks from injuring people.
I entered a longish tunnel, not as long and scary as the previous one though.
I spotted the Sannami bridge further down the valley, visiting this would have been a pretty long hike, and the girls didn’t go so I didn’t either. I could baaaarely see it through the trees as the foliage is a lot more dense in the summer.
The road split up to form the loop in the trail. I went right as the girls did too.
Yume no Tsuribashi (The Suspension Bridge of Dreams)
The road very quickly ended and turned into a set of stairs, and you can see the bridge of dreams in the distance.
There was some really creaky scaffolding up as it looked like the path had given way at some point in the past. That concrete sign was probably in the reservoir instead.
Crossing the bridge was utterly terrifying with the heavy bag on my back. I let some people pass me first so I wouldn’t terrify them too.
I took a pic in the centre of the bridge of the dam to the right, being really careful not to drop my camera in the water.
I made sure no one was looking to see me re-create the picture of the poses the characters make when they reach the end.
There was another mini bridge a little further up.
And then the climbing began. There were SO many steps. I would have usually been fine but I was probably weighing close to double the norm with my backpack on. It was tough.
I had to stop halfway up at a bench to rest about 10 minutes before carrying on.
Eventually I made it to the top. Ayano’s words really resonated with me.
A snap of said Buddha:
Thankfully, it was just flat and downhill from here on. There was a sign that showed a map to the peak of the mountain. No chance I was climbing that lol
I spotted the bridge of dreams crossing the bigger road bridge to loop back to the other side of the valley.
I had a bus to catch, so I went all the way back through the town to the bus stop.
I arrived back at Senzu to change busses, but disaster struck. I had miscalculated the fares and I was out of money! Thankfully I overheard some English speaking people on the bus down and they lent me some cash. I made sure to pay them back later of course – thanks Dessy! I stayed another night in the work hotel from earlier, before heading to my next location.
It’s a shame I was only on foot here because there were a few cafes and tons of bridges that I missed, that Rin and Ayano visited on their bikes and were pretty far to get to on foot. But oh well. Something for someone else to go and check out 🙂
Next post: river camping and an onsen! Stay tuned!!
Tom's Blog 
Leave a comment