Report on TENGU tour held on 9 December 2024

 

Our guests were a group of fifteen (15) Russian private bankers who were attended by a Russian organizer, a Russian guide, a photographer and a Japanese tour operator.

After learning calligraphy working on Japanese folding fans at Yakuo-in Temple

The guide from TENGU was just myself. The weather was perfect while it was a little bit cold in the morning.

 Thanks to the perfect weather, my guests and I were able to see the nice view of high-rise buildings in Shinjuku, Tokyo Skytree, etc. from Sumika-mae Observation Deck and the Pacific Ocean from Kasumidai Observation Deck.

At Kasumidai Observation Deck

We were still be able to enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage.

Around the Kasumidai Observation Deck

 

I was explained, in advance, to the effect that the main event for our guests will be to enjoy experience-based learning of Japanese culture at Yakuo-in Temple including calligraphy, tea ceremony and martial arts with the entertainment by Geisha girls.

So, my mission was quite different from a usual one and just to guide our guests on the way to Yakuo-in Temple through the Russian guide.

That is, I was requested to guide the guests from Russia by sharing interesting facts, etc. with the Russian guide while (i) taking a chairlift with her from the Sanroku Station at the foot of the mountain to the Sanjo Station at the middle of the mountain and then (ii) walking with her along the Trail 1 which is the front approach to Yakuo-in Temple without stopping at many of the usual guiding points.

The bottom line was that my English guiding was translated by the Russian guide and her translation was transmitted by wireless microphone to each guest wearing a receiver.

 

Russian guide and myself

In this context, my guiding had to be focused more on general topics in relation to (i) the remarkably rich biodiversity of Mt. Takao and its background and (ii) Yakuo-in Temple featuring the unique Japanese religious culture represented by the fusion of Buddhism and Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan.

 It was a pity that it was much more difficult to know and feel any reaction from the Russian guests mainly due to the indirect guiding and the limited timeframe of the tour.

 On the way, we saw that some of twisted rice straw ropes called Shimenawa that symbolize Shinto being replaced with new ones to prepare for the New Year.

Newly replaced Shimenawa and the staff working on it

It was an extremely short journey starting from the mountain base around 10:30 am and ending in front of the Guest Quarters of Yakuo-in Temple around 11:15 am.

 After the tour, the Japanese tour operator kindly shared with me the photos they took including the ones in the main event at Yakuo-in Temple that I didn’t attend.

Russian Samurai and Geisha Girls

 Generally speaking, learning artistic pursuits such as calligraphy and tea ceremony is regarded part of self-discipline while looking at those photos their main event turned out to be a sort of more amusement and fun, which is good!

 

Dated: 11 December 2024

 Written by Shiro

Report on TENGU Tour held on 25 November 2024

 

The weather was perfect while it was a little bit cold in the morning.

 Thanks to the perfect weather, my guests and I were able to see the nice view of high-rise buildings in Shinjuku, Tokyo Skytree, etc. from Sumika-mae Observation Deck, the Pacific Ocean from Kasumidai Observation Deck and the graceful figure of Mt. Fuji from the peak of Mt. Takao.

Mt. Fuji viewed from the peak of Mt. Takao

Our guests were a couple from Philippines who are both more familiar with Japan with their academic or business background. 

In front of Takaosanguchi Station on Keio Line

 

That is, the wife once studied in Japan and the husband used to work for a Japanese trading company.

As they had a scheduled meeting at 5 pm on that day in the center of Tokyo, our tour started earlier than usual at 8:30 am.

They were very keen on viewing the autumn foliage and carefully and successfully chose the timing of the tour.

In front of Takahashiya, a popular soba noodle restaurant

 

On the way, we took a cable car leaving Kiyotaki Station at 9:00 am and then followed Trail 1 heading for the Yakuo-in Temple as usual.

 Although our guests tried to avoid weekends that are generally busier, we still saw many visitors to Mt. Takao partly because of a lot of children on school trips.

At one of the autumn foliage viewing spots close to the cable car Takaosan Station

Touching the statue of Lucky Octopus for diving blessing

 

As the husband had bad knees, our plan was to avoid the route involving many stairs on the way. Further, to mitigate his problem, I lent him a trekking pole.

As you can imagine, when we reached a fork in Trail 1, our guests without hesitation chose the route on the right nicknamed Onna-zaka, literally, the Slope for Women which is a gentle upward slope instead of the other one on the left nicknamed Otoko-zaka, literally, the Slope for Men which involves 108 stone steps and is more challenging.

It was around 10:00 am when we arrived at Yuki-en, literally, Joyful Garden where we can see the photogenic white Thai style stupa where the authentic ashes of Shakyamuni Buddha supported by the archaeological evidence are said to be enshrined.

In front of the white Thai style stupa

In front of Shitenno-mon, literally, the Gate of Four Heavenly Kings

 It was around 10:15 am when we arrived at the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple.

In front of Tengu statues

 After some guiding, restroom break at the lowest level of the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple, skipping other main guiding points on the upper levels of the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple, we started moving on slowly towards the peak of the mountain around 10:40 am following Fuji Michi which is a gentle upward slope.

A short break on the way to the peak of the mountain on Fuji Michi

We managed to get to the peak of Mt. Takao around 11:15 am

At the peak of Mt. Takao with their favorite autumn leaves in the background

 As mentioned earlier, looks like our guests behaved well and lucky enough to see the graceful figure of Mt. Fuji.  

A happy and lucky couple with Mt. Fuji in the background

At the lunch table

 We took another photo at the peak of the mountain and left there around noon.

At the peak of Mt. Takao

 On the way back, we followed Trail 1 down to the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple with the consent of the husband who has bad knees with the assistance of a trekking pole and the handrails along the stone stairs.

In front of Izuna Gongen-do Hall

Around the pair of stone carved guardian lions with the red Tori-i gate and beautiful autumn leaves in the background

 It was fortunate that we were able to witness the procession of Buddhist priests on the way back from their performance of the 4^th Goma Fire Ritual of the day.

A group of priests marching in procession led by the mountain priest blowing a trumpet shell

Further, we happened to see a group of young Buddhist monks from Thailand in front of the Main Hall of Yakuo-in Temple and took a photo together with them.

 

In front of Main Hall of Yakuo-in Temple together with young monks from Thailand

 

Although I tried to explain to them that there is a Thai style stupa in Mt. Takao where the authentic ashes of Shakyamuni Buddha given by Rama VII, one of the kings of Thailand are enshrined, I’m not sure if they understood what I said.

 Then, we took the time to walk down to the cable car station following Trail 1 to find a long line for the cable car at Takaosan Station.

 

Our guests and myself with a long line in the background

Having said that, mainly thanks to increased frequency of cable car service of every 7 minutes, our waiting time was not too long.

Just after getting off a cable car nicknamed Green Leaves at Kiyotaki Station

We came back to the foot of the mountain around 1:55 pm and then took the final photos of my guests in the tour in front of the cable car Kiyotaki Station, which was the end of the tour.

A happy couple with Kiyotaki Station and beautiful autumn foliage in the background

Dated: 27 November 2024

 Written by Shiro

 

November 17, 2024

 The beautiful autumn foliage and the beautiful sunny day made Mt Takao very crowded. We started at 9:30am but had to wait for the cable car for 20 minutes. Today’s guests are two Singaporean guys and a Myanmar lady with two Japanese guys as observers who are interested in TENGU activities and considering to join the club. From TENGU, Nori and Masa joined as guides.

Masa started the tour with the explanation of the “Fudo-in” temple near the entrance of Mt. Takao, in which the famous Kobo-Daishi is enshrined. Masa explained, in front of the statue of Kobo-Daishi, that the Buddhist rosary he is holding in his left hand has 108 beads. The figure 108 has a special meaning in Buddhism and it will be explained later when it appears in another place.

Artwork depicting the four seasons and traditional Japanese events displayed on a tree stump at the roadside of the Trail no.1 past the Octopus cedar tree. The contrast between the red of Hozuki（ ground cherry） and the green leaves is very beautiful. Thank you very much for the local artist for his (her?) creation.

Now, after climbing the 108 steps of Otoko-Zaka, meaning men’s slope, we have come to the Kunuke-mon, literally the Gate of Getting Out of Sufferings. One of the guests asked me, “Are there really 108 steps?”. The answer is “exactly!” The number 108 is frequently referred to in Buddhism as the variety of worldly sins or desires people have, and going through this gate can mitigate the feeling of suffering from afflictions related to these 108 sins or desires.

 

At the Joyful Garden

With clear blue sky in the background, stands the stupa in which the ashes of Buddha are enshrined 

At the Joyful Garden

 Nori-san seems to be enjoying the conversation! Perhaps the lady guest was taking the talk about Buddhism more seriously because she is from Myanmar.

 Though the autumn tint is not yet at its peak, it is beautiful nevertheless.

At Shitenno-mon, “the Gate of Four Heavenly king”

 

In front of the main hall of Yakuo-in temple

With incense smoke, she was purifying her body and mind. We wish her prayers will be heard!

At Gongen-do

Autumn leaves are really beautiful.

At Gongen-do

Telling the story about the figure in the mural. He is a Chinese legendary hermit, 

who lost his body while his spirit was traveling to the other world.

 If you want to hear the story, join our tour!

At the top

 It was as congested as expected in this season with maybe more than a few hundreds of visitors.

Lunch at the summit

Miraculously, there was one vacant table available for our lunch, so we could enjoy lunch and conversation, feeling relaxed and free.                 The Singaporean guests told us about the eye-popping high cost of owning a car in Singapore. Saying they need a certificate to buy a car, they showed us the calculator on their cell phones. If I am not mistaken, it exceeded 10 million yen! Unbelievable! In addition, a car itself is as expensive as the certificate!

Luckily we could see the glimpse of Mt. Fuji when we were leaving, which had been totally hidden in the cloud when we had arrived there.

We climbed down via trail no.4 and took the photo on the way at the popular suspension bridge.

At the chair-lift station

Look at this huge and long queue for the chair-lift!  It took about 50minutes before we could ride on the lift.  But Masa and all others took advantage of this waiting time to have a chat over drinks and snacks they bought there.

  

A healthy young lady has a healthy appetite, enjoying skewered sausage.

the tour ended with smiles

 After a 12 minute chair-lift ride, we safely arrived at Kiyotaki station. Though the tour took longer than we had planned because of the chair-lift waiting, all of us were happy and smiling. The guests and the observers were really nice, kind and cheerful. We thank you very much for your cooperation that made the tour really enjoyable for all of us. To the guests, Enjoy your stay in Japan !!!

 

Written by Masa

Private tour on November８th

 We met up at Takaosan-guchi station at 9:30.  There was a little bit clouds but we could see clear blue sky among them.

Our guest was a young lady from Hong Kong. She is very cheerful, friendly and likes talking. After brief introduction, she gave us Chinese tea as souvenir. 

 She has visited to Japan for sightseeing many times. But she seems not used to be hiking mountain well.

As she said that she is acrophobia, and no experience of chair lift but she was so curious that she accepted our proposal to challenge it with us. 

On chair lift

She is interested in meaning of number which is lucky or not.  She questioned us about “8” at Tako Cedar (the place we can see the huge tree) and “Shichigosan~3,5,7” (a ceremony to pray for the health and growth of children) at the paper craft spot called Japanese Banksy decoration. 

Why odd numbers are fortune, and even numbers are misfortune. Because even number means separate or divided ,so it means bad. Why “8~八” and “9〜九“ don’t match with the theory.

 We explained “8” is like shape of a skirt spreading widely which means increasing lucky things.

 “9”pronunce “ku”means struggle, after going through Kunuke gate means over come “struggle”. She said meaning“8” is same as in Chinese culture.

Japanese Banksy paper craft.

Kunuke stone gate

She was surprised that butterfly Asagimadara fly through 2000km from Taiwan to Japan. And she was interested in the butterfly’s habit that they eat poisonous leaf Kijoran for getting immunity protecting themselves from enemies.

 This is the egg of Asagimadara laid on the underside of the leaf of Kijoran. I saw it last week.

the egg of Asagimadara laid on underside of kijoran leaf

We had a lunch at back of the summit. Before this she treated us kurogoma amazake. At lunch time our topics were about the difference of food between Hongkong and Japan. 

She said fishes and fruits in Japan are very delicious. She brought onigiri bought in convenience store, I brought onigiri I made. 

She is little bit curious and seemed a bit admire of my onigiri. Even though it is very plain ordinary food but looking back I would have liked offer her a bit split my onigiri.

On the way back we took No.4 trail crossing suspension bridge. As she did wear flat shoes and had a shoulder bag and she sometimes seemed a bit scary with so many wooden steps were there, carefully walked not to be caught by spreading roots on ground and narrow paths on muddy clay soil. 

But she enjoyed it very much and even sometimes cared about me. After that we took No 1trail road down to Kiyotaki station all walking. We arrived at Kiyotaki station 4:05 pm. 

We enjoyed very much this tour with such a cheerful, gentle and kind young lady, it was a wonderful memory.

Trail no.4

 

Written by Rie