Tour on Dec.21, 2019

Today’s guests are 11 Indian people (from 3 families), 2 of them are currently living in Japan and the rest in U.S.A. They are close friends each other and those who reside in U.S.A. are visiting those in Japan for holiday.

As they wanted to climb up on foot, rather than taking the cable car, we started the tour via trail no.1, a front approach to Yakuoin Temple.

Though it was a cold cloudy winter day, we felt warm or even hot, walking the steepest part of the trail, with someone taking off his coat or out of breath

After we passed the hardest part of the trail, they regained their strength and, walking leisurely, could enjoy the quiet winter scenery around.

Through the Josinmon Gate, we kept going up to the top of the mountain, visiting Yukien garden, Yakuoin temple etc. on the way.

Do you know there are many spots at Mt.Takao, other than Yakuoin temple, where you can get Devine help? For example, you can get rid of 108 worldly sins and desires that in Buddhism, every human is supposed to have, by going up the particular 108 stone steps.

Also there is a gate, by going through which, you are to be liberated from sufferings.

So come to Mt.Takao and be happy!

When we had lunch near the top, Tim san, one of our guides, proposed to all to sing together a Japanese children’s song (a song describing a child waiting eagerly for a new year), which every Japanese has sung in his/her childhood.

Tim san had prepared the score and the words of the song for the guests and with him as a conductor and a main vocal, we, including all guests sang the song in a big big chorus.

As we sang so merrily, hikers at the neighboring tables joined us and we sang all together even more merrily, that was a high light of the tour. Thank you, Tim san, we all enjoyed.

The climate was rather cold but the tour had been going on in a warm and friendly mood from the start to the end.

We thank you all for making the tour a happy and enjoyable one.

Written by Nori