Mount Tenzan Ogi yokan after a walk along the grassy ridge

I parked at the trailhead and set off from Tenzan Upper Shrine for the summit. I began noticing the dirt and stones underfoot, and somehow even the pace of my talking slowed. The grassland opened up, the sky felt enormous, and my friend and I stopped to catch our breath together.

By November, the grass had taken on its autumn colours, with a narrow path running through it. A rounded ridge lay ahead; to its right, more ridges rose one behind another. I loved being able to look back at the trail I'd just walked—a different feeling from driving up.

I pulled the front of my black jacket a little closer and took out the Ogi yokan I'd brought along. I unwrapped a small piece and brought it to my lips. The sugar on the outside gave a little crunch, followed by the soft sweetness of the yokan. After the walk, I wanted to savour each bite slowly.

Ogi yokan comes in all sorts of flavours. Today, I'd brought honneri, made with smooth, strained bean paste. As we rested, I asked my friend which flavours she liked, and before long we were chatting about what souvenirs to choose in town on the way back. The mountain scenery wasn't the only pleasure of the trip; Ogi's sweets had become part of it too.

Mount Tenzan rises to 1,046m, and there are views in every direction from the summit. The route from Tenzan Upper Shrine car park to the summit is listed at 1.2km, with 100m of elevation gain. I like driving close to the mountain, then walking the final stretch to reach the view.

When I finished the yokan, I looked once more toward the end of the ridge. The grass rustled nearby, while the mountain ridges lay far off. The trail I'd walked continued toward the ridges in the distance. The joy was different from driving up, and it made me want to stay on the ridge a little longer.