Our
guests were a group of ten (10) JICA trainees from overseas. TENGU guides
included Sally, Rie, Akao, Yuan and myself as a tour leader.
This
time, we divided our gusts into two (2) groups with Group A led by myself and
Group B led by Sally.
After
the briefing on the dos and don’ts at Mt. Takao, the tour plan on that day,
etc. in front of Takaosanguchi Station, we started the tour around 9:40 am.
At
the foot of the mountain, we showed our guests the statue of Osoji-kozo (young
Buddhist trainee monk cleaning the temple) as a symbol of our Mt. Takao
clean-up campaign that has proven highly effective and successful, and then
statues of Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel, another symbol of Mt. Takao.
In front of the statue of Osoji-kozo
In front of the statue of Japanese Giant Flying
Squirrel
Group
A took a cable car leaving Kiyotaki Station at 10:00 am while Group B took the
next one.
In the cable car
It
appears that the persistent autumn rains have come to an end. So, the weather was reasonably good that we managed to see Tokyo
Skytree and high-rise buildings in Shinjuku from Sumika-mae Observation Deck,
though hazy.
At Sumika-mae Observation Deck
At Kasumidai Observation Deck
After
getting off the cable car, we showed our guests various landmarks such as some
500-year-old Octopus Cedar Tree, six-sense purification stone, wheels, Joshin-mon
tori-i gate symbolizing the fusion of Shinto and Shingon sect of Buddhism, etc.
along Trail 1.
At the statue of lucky octopus
At the Joshin-mon tori-i gate
At
the information board about “Asagimadara” with its English name of Chestnut Tiger
Butterfly, we, Group A guides, explained that the butterflies are famous for their
incredible long-distance migration across Asia and that they are toxic in both
their caterpillar and adult stages because their caterpillars feed on milkweed
plants called “Kijoran” which contains harmful alkaloids making them unpalatable
to their predators.
Interestingly,
one of our guests, who is from Keniya, explained that they have a similar
butterfly in their country.
At
a folk on Trail 1, the front approach to Yakuo-in Temple, the majority of our
guests bravely chose the more challenging route called “Otoko Zaka”, literally,
the Slope for Men.
At Otoko Zaka
We
spent some time at Yuki-en (Joyful Garden) featuring an outdoor fire altar and a
photogenic Thai style white stupa we explained to our guests.
In front of Thai style white stupa
Before
we got to the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple, we showed our guests a wooden plate
mentioning TENGU as a donor to Yakuo-in Temple to demonstrate our loyalty to
Mt. Takao.
Pointing to the wooden plate showing the name of TENGU
as donor to Yakuo-in Temple
When
Group A went into the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple going through Shitenno-mon
(the Gate of Four Heavenly Kings), it was around 11:30 am, which indicates that
we moved relatively slowly.
In front of Shitenno-mon (the Gate of Four Heavenly Kings)
At the purification basin
She was trying to multiply her coins by washing then at the mysterious spring
At the Main Hall of Yakuo-in
Temple
At the Izuna Gongen-do Hall
Group
A got to the peak of the mountain around 12:30 pm some 20 minutes earlier than
Group B.
Unfortunately,
as it was a little too cloudy, we were not able to see a graceful figure of Mt.
Fuji from the peak of the mountain.
After
having lunch together, we took a group photo around the peak of the mountain
with the elusive Mt. Fuji in the background, and left there around 13:40 pm.
With the elusive Mt. Fuji in the background
On
the way back, after stopping by the restroom, we took a little different route
by following Trail 1 briefly and then switching to Iroha no Mori Trail, then further
switching to Trail 4 going through a suspension bridge.
At Ihoha no Mori Trail
At suspension bridge (Miyamabashi bridge)
On
the return journey, we took a chairlift for a change.
Taking a chairlift
After
coming back to the mountain base taking a chairlift, we took the final group
photo in front of cable car Kiyotaki Station around 3:30 pm, which was the end
of the tour.
In front of Kiyotaki Station
Some
of our guests appeared to have a plan to visit Yokohama together after the tour.
To that end, they asked us for an advice
to check on the most efficient transit route and otherwise.
What
energetic guests! My muscle pain hasn’t
gone away yet!
Written
by Shiro
Dated:
5 October 2026
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