A gentle hike in severe heat wave on July 24th

On the previous day at Kumagaya city, 60km north-west from central Tokyo, recorded 41.1 degrees Celsius, the highest ever in Japan. A deadly heat wave blistering across Japan has claimed more than 30 lives this month, with a little relief in sight as record temperatures are expected to persist until this week. The media reported that eleven people, mostly senior citizens, died of suspected heatstroke on Saturday July 21^st alone.

Among these high-temperature and humidity, we guided a nice couple from Belgium. I and my colleague guide are also senior citizens though young in spirit. So, we were conscious to take the water and a rest at a good time. My colleague guide prepared a towel in which a refrigerant was put and bound a neck then cooled it.

We met at the exit of Takaosan-guchi station at 9:30AM. After introducing ourselves, we took cable car to half-way up, then took trail-1. Along this way, there are Octopus Cedar Tree, the first gate to the sacred area called Joshinmon gate, Jinben-do small shrine, and the stone monument of no killings. We took men’s slope that has 108steps of which number showing human’s worldly desires. At the Yuki-en, we explained the white structure of a stupa, where the ashes of Buddha were enshrined, which were given in 1931 by the king of Thailand. The woman of the couple was born and raised in Thailand. To this friend-ship, we thanked each other and wished to keep it.

We took lunch at summit. As we had thought we could not see Mt Fuji from there. Taking Fujimichi-trail then Cable car for going down. Coming back to the foot, near the station we dropped in the café bar then enjoyed drinking beer, coffee and tea. They were to go for one -week Kyoto trip from next morning. Now they are living in a small town in Belgium near the French border. So, during the stay in Kyoto, hoping to visit the small and calm town. We thanked and hoped them to enjoy the visit of Tokyo, Kyoto.   (Comson)

The tour on the 16th July 2018

Today's guests were 4 business men, 2 Israelis, an English man and a Japanese, all at their prime and hard workers. The all 3 foreign guests just arrived at Japan in the morning on the day but were fully ready to enjoy the tour, showing no trace at all of fatigue from their long flight. 

The recent weather at Mt.Takao had not been so good with frequent occasional rain and. the forecast we checked on the spot indicated a possible local thunder storm. Actually it was getting dark and the weather seemed to be deteriorating when we started the tour at 14:30. 

We took the cable car to the upper station, then walked to Yakuoin Temple via trail No.1 and to the top of the mountain. In spite of the weather forecast, we didn’t encounter any thunder storm and instead, the cloudy weather gave us cool breeze, making the hiking rather comfortable.  

On the way down, we took trail No.4 which crosses the popular suspension bridge. At this stage, some of the guests complained of sore foot muscle. We had planned to take the chairlift going down, but could not make it in time, because it stops operation at 16:30. So we took the cable car again and safely arrived back at the Kiyotaki Station around 17:30.  

During the tour, we learned that the guests were buyers and sellers, who were going to have tough negotiation the next day on. Wishing the successful negotiation, we bid each other goodbye there. Have a nice rest, all of you guys! 

Written by Nori

TENGU Tour with international students on July 7. 2018

We welcomed five international students from five countries who are taking part in JICA program. They are from Ghana, Palestine, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines. What an international tour it is! Besides, seven Japanese participated in the tour as a trial. We divided them into two groups and started to hike. Enjoy seeing photos of the tour, which are saying everything!

On the suspension bridge on Route #4

On the top of Mt. Takao

Sally, a TENGU guide, shows a participant how to purify oneself in Yakuo-in Temple.

In front of Shi-ten-o-mon, The Four Guardian Gods’ Gate

In the green forest

In front of the cable car

In the cable car

In front of a shrine called Izuna-Gongen-Do

A lot of Smiles after the tour

(Reported by HIDE)

Report on the tour of June 16

“Just walking in the rain” (Sorry. Only for the elderly) in Mt. Takao was a pure fun especially when we were prepared for it.These are photos taken mostly by our guests, young sisters from Singapore Vivian and Sharon accompanied with a Japanese friend of them,Masaki.

At the first lookout point on the trail No.1, Kompira.On a fine day, skyscrapers in Shinjuku area are visible.Yet.this is something, isn’t it?

In passing through upper chairlift station.Usually packed with people, but today, no one else!!

Lighting incense sticks before making a prayer.At the Main Hall.  Praying for what?

All members at the quiet summit. From left Sharon, Vivian, Ryo, myself, and Masaki.

Detour to a suspension bridge on the trail No.4 to taste a mountain trail.

                                                        (By Sumo)

The private tour on June 14,2018

The private tour on June 14 ,2018It was cloudy and occasionally fine. Our guest were a family of three from Singapore .We met them at the exit of KEIO Takaosan Guchi Station at around 9:30 a.m.  They were Mother, her son and daughter. After we exchanged greetings we confirmed necessary things to climb Mt. Takao . My colleague began her guide on the sweeper boy statue and explained about the flying squirrel bronze statues. I explained about trails on the guideboard, also..We took the cable car to ascend and they took many photos during the board. After we got off the cable car, we took them at the observatory area. Because of the cloudy day, we could not see the Tokyo-sky Tree Tower.We continued our guides on Octopus cedar tree, ridge way at the border between  different  climate zones. When I explained about a travelling butterfly, in other words Chestnut Tiger on the guide  board, they seemed to be impressed that it could move a long distance such as about 1,600kilo meter. When I explained about the reason why its larva makes a hole on the leave before eat it, they were impressed.When we arrived at the ground of Yakuou-In Temple, they did the demonstration to wash coins at the eight dragon’ hall wishing richness. Her son bought a 5 yen coin and fastened on the bar to find a good marriage partner.We arrived at the summit at around 12:10. And we took photo all together at the summit, 

We had lunch at the near the summit. After we finished lunch, my colleague instructed how to make a folded paper  crane.

They tried as hard as they could and made wonderful folding paper cranes. I believe they had good experiences and made good memories. The trail 4 was taken to descend.  During walking down , her son and daughter assisted their mother to be safe. They seemed to be enjoyed to walk on the MIYAMA bridge (suspension bridge).and took several photos.We continued to walk down to the foot of Mt. Takao and arrived there safely at around 3:10 p.m.

END

WRITTEN BY　NABE](M. Watanabe)