Course: Ogose Station – Mt. Ootakatori – Ogose Nature Center – Hydrongea Road Hydrongea Mountain Park – Ogose Station (by bus – 280 yen)
 
From Ikebukuro, take the  Tobu Tojo (Express) Line’s 8:49AM train and get off at Sakado Station, arriving at 9:33AM. Change here to the local train going to Ogose, getting on the 9:40 train which arrives at Ogose Station at 9:58AM. Make sure to get on this train as we cannot wait for the next one.
 
[map]
越生駅
[/map]

People going from Ikebukuro Station can meet at the front end of the train on the Tobu Tojo Line platform at 8:49, or meet at Ogose Station’s ticket gate at 10:00. 
 
Walking time is about 5 hours (12 Kilometers).
You can enjoy 15,000 hydrongea stalks at the Hydrongea Park (on the mountain) plus 5000 more on the 3km walk to the park – FLOWERS GALORE!
 
Please wear appropriate shoes (tennis shoes, hiking boots), bring a lunch to eat on the mountain, and plenty of liquids.

The following pages have some information about the area (in Japanese):

http://homepage2.nifty.com/iruken/ogoseazisai/ogoseazisai.htm
http://blog.livedoor.jp/t0617tog/archives/50694151.html
http://www.mapple.net/spots/G01101006301.htm