Hachijoshima is an island, which was created by two volcanoes so close to each other that there is land connection between them. This is main flat part of the island; the airport is build in the middle.

One of the volcanoes is called “Hachioji Fuji”. A road goes up to about to 650 m. From there we ascended to the top at 850 m. The way up with stairs gave an increasing good view down.
When we finally reach about 800 m the wind blowing strongly. The gusts were about 30-50% stronger.

The view down was nice. In the harbor we saw MaRe docked at the pier. Outside at the sea, white crusted waves. Not looking that comfortable to sail.

At a somehow wind protected spot we sat down and had our lunch box. I had rolled sushi with “negitoro”. “Toro” is the fat part of a tuna’s belly, finely chopped and mixed with chopped “negi” (onions). I haven’t eaten them for 5 years…

Quiet some people made it up to this height. Younger ones in their twenties, but also elderly people, like a lady most likely in her late 70s.

After lunch Tobi and I took the last challenge to go up ro the very top. On the way the gusts were sometimes so strong that we stopped walking to hold on bushes and shrubs.

When we reached a point being maybe 2-3 m lower the real top, but another 400 m away, we called it good. The gusts I guessed to 40 KN (~75 km/h). There was no need to make these last metres in this wind.

After being down at the lunch place, Shigeo had gotten information about a trail, down into the crater to a tiny little shrine and a good view into the steep part of the crater. We took the trail, reached the tiny shrine, consisting of two “toriis”, the gate like looking structures leading to a shrine. The real shrine there was just a place unvisible as the gods.

We had a look into the crater and saw, we were at the edge of the vertical wall down into the crater. The interesting thing of this crater is, it contains a small volcano inside. Maybe the final eruption of the volcano. It was fully covered with trees, bushes, and other vegetation.

Then we went back. The way down a volcano is always the same. A boring decent and puting some strain on the knees. But here it is only a 200 m decent. Fortunately.

Back at MaRe, dinner, and sleep.