``Yoshio-san'' takes on the challenge of climbing Mt. Binishi, aiming for Mie Prefecture's spectacular scenic spot ``Elephant Back''!
掲載日：2021.11.17
Makes me want to go there and take photos! Yoshio-san, a former gymnast, is trying his first time climbing Mt. Benishi, located near the Kumano Kodo Iseji Route, a world heritage site, aiming for the much-talked-about scenic spot "Elephant's Back."
*This article is based on the content of the November 17, 2021 broadcast of "Yoshi Onii-san's "You're starting to look more like a dad", which is broadcast every Wednesday on CBC TV's "Chant!" .
[About the past collaboration article with “Tourism Mie”]
What is “Yoshi Onii-san”?
The 11th generation gymnast on the NHK program ``Okaasan to Issho.'' My real name is Yoshihisa Kobayashi. His nickname is "Yoshi Onii-san". After graduating from the program in 2019, he opened a YouTube channel "Let's play with Yoshi Onii-san!" The theme of the channel is "videos that are fun for children and safe for adults to watch," and the channel has over 100,000 subscribers.
What is the scenic spot “Zou no Se”?
``Zou no Se'' is a scenic spot located about 5 minutes further from the top of Mt. Benishi in Kihoku KihokuTown. There is a large rock that literally looks like the back of an elephant, and it has recently become popular as a photo spot, with people saying, ``You can take magical photos that make you feel like you're standing in the sky!''
First, decide on the route!
There are two main routes to get to Mt. Binishi (Elephant Back)!
① From the Kumano Kodo Iseji “Magose-togePass” climbing entrance
② From the trailhead near Camp Inn Seamount
The "Choshi River Area Trekking MAP" created by KihokuTown is easy to understand!
This time, we will be climbing route 2, which is relatively easy to climb even for beginners as there are many places where the roads are well-maintained!
Convenient parking is available at TanemakiGonbei-no-Sato!
To climb Mt. Benishi (Elephant's Back) using route ②, go to Tanemaki Gonbei, which is about a 10-minute walk from the entrance. Free parking(※)is to use convenience!
There are no toilets on the trail. Including breaks, it will take about 4 hours round trip, so please complete it at TanemakiGonbei-no-Sato.
*A fee will be charged during the summer. For more information, please contact TanemakiGonbei-no-Sato directly.
Get ready for mountain climbing!
Yoshi-niisan, you've changed your shoes, done some warm-up exercises, and are fully prepared.
Avoid exposing your skin as much as possible to prevent scratches from branches and rocks, reduce injuries from falls, and prevent insects such as bees and ticks!
■Recommended clothing
・Long sleeves and long pants that protect from the sun and dry quickly
・A backpack that fits your body
・Climbing shoes that cover up to the ankles, etc.
There are some places where footing is difficult, so it's helpful to have a cane that suits you.
This will also help reduce the burden on your feet!
We're finally leaving for Mt. Binishi (Elephant's Back)!
From TanemakiGonbei-no-Sato parking lot, cross the bridge over the Choshi River and cross Camp Inn Kaiyama to arrive at the trailhead. It's about a 10 minute walk.
Arrived at the entrance!
Yoshi Onii-san: "It feels like nature! I'm looking forward to it... Oh, all of a sudden, there are stone steps! It's quite steep."
Yoshi-nii-san: “Hmm. I wonder how much longer.”
Good brother, it looks like there's still plenty of time.
It takes about 1 hour to climb...
Yoshi Onii-san: "We've finally reached the halfway point. It looks like it's going to get even more difficult from here. We'll do our best in the second half."
The second half of the race has many steep roads and long stairs, so it's a good idea to take a short break here!
Yoshi-niisan climbs the stairs holding the rope firmly.
It can be slippery especially after rain, so climb carefully step by step.
Especially on the way home, you tend to rush because you want to get home as soon as possible, but please don't relax and go down slowly.
Yoshi-niisan: "We're only 45 minutes away from the top!"
And here is the steel tower!
Yoshi-niisan: "Wow, I can see a big steel tower."
After about 30 minutes to the top, the steel tower came into view.
Stairs that go on forever
Along the mountain trail, these signposts are placed about every 100 meters. These signposts have been installed not only to serve as landmarks for walking, but also to help speed up rescue operations in the event of injury or sudden illness by informing people of the mountain pass name and number.
Last spurt! !
Once you see this sign, it will take about 15 minutes to reach the top!
Yoshi Onii-san: "We're almost there. Just one more breath!"
Yoshi Onii-san: “It feels so good to stop and relax like this! I can even hear the birds chirping♪”
When you suddenly stop and look up, you can see the beautiful sunlight filtering through the trees...it's soothing.
Arrived at the top of Mt. Binishi!
Yoshi-nii-san: "Finally, we're at the top! I heard that the mountain isn't that high, but you were sweating quite a bit."
And finally, on to the "elephant's back"...
After walking for about 1-2 minutes from the signboard at the top of Mt. Benishi... we finally arrived at "Zou no Se"!
Yoshi-nii-san: "This is amazing! It's a spectacular view! If it were clearer, I think you'd be able to see very far ♪"
Spectacular view spot “Elephant Back”!
Yoshi-nii-san: "This is exactly the back of an elephant! This is it!"
Yoshi-nii-san was very excited when he saw the rock, which was gray, rough, and rounded, and looked like the back of an elephant.
At the tip of the rock, on a clear day, you can see the entire Kumano Sea, with OwaseCity on your right, Mt. Tengukura in front, and the Choshi River on your left.
Of course, you can take pictures with the spectacular scenery in the background.
Yoshi-niisan: "We've finally arrived! It's a spectacular view that will make you feel all the fatigue! I want everyone to see this!"
There are no fences, so please make sure to prioritize safety. Please try not to get too excited.
By the way, if you look a little further away, the rock looks like this!
lastly···
Yoshio-san: ``The sound of the birds, the smell of the earth... Of course it's a great way to get in touch with nature, but I think the most important thing about mountain climbing is to feel a sense of accomplishment. It will give you confidence, and by accumulating success experiences from a young age, you will be motivated to decide what to try next.In the future, I would like to go mountain climbing with my parents and children!Climbing in Mie Prefecture, and other activities. I would love to try climbing the mountains!”
About “Yoshi-niisan is starting to look more like a dad”
A segment aired every Wednesday on the CBC TV program "Chant!" Introducing the charms of Mie Prefecture, located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago, from a father's perspective. This is a program in which ``Yoshi Onii-san'', who is growing as a father every day, uses the knowledge of Mie Prefecture he has learned so far to convey information about Mie from a more mature perspective.
Past broadcast contents are published on the official website of "Chant!"
