Report of JICA tour on 1st October

 After 3-year absence, because of Colona, we resumed our Mount Takao English guide hiking with JICA member, yet.

Today, we have 5guests from Egypt, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, and a visitor from JICA Tokyo office. We started the tour around 11:00. Since it was fine Saturday, many people were in front of the station.

To get 11:10 cable car, we only made simple guidance around there. And enjoyed nice scenery from the slope.   Around the upper cable car station, we divided into two teams.

 

 

At Kasumidai observation deck we enjoyed the view of Tokyo and Yokohama. High rise building in Shinjuku, Tokyo Sky Tree, Yokohama Landmark Building or so.

At the Monkey Park, they were performing a special show from “Nikko-Saru-Gundan”. The monkey was adorable.

 

A lot of religious structures are on the way and in Yakuo-in Temple. Our guests were very interested in them. Therefore, our guides could explain with passion. For example, about “Tako-Sugi, or Octopus Cedar Tree”, 108 worldly desires, relationship with Shintoism and Buddhism, Izuna Daigongen that is the principal image of Yakuo-in Temple and #Tengu, the messenger of the principle and so on.

 

By chance, we saw the monks’ procession in the temple, and an adorable girl in decorative kimono. The girl seemed to make “seven- five-three year” festival, one of rites of passage, wishing for her health and happiness. Monks do a fire ritual for various kind of wish and desire of believers.

We went up many steps to the top of the mountain. It was like a hard training for mountain monks!

We reached the top at 13:10, at last! The view was clear but not enough to see Mt. Fuji.

During lunch, we had a chat about monks’ procession or customs or so.

After lunch, we went down trail 1⇒trail 4⇒trail1. On the trail 4 we breathed fresh air and purified ourselves.

 Lastly, we took a chair lift. It was another highlight of the tour. On the lift, we enjoyed not only the superb view of the mountains but also thrill of an aerial walk because there’s no safety bar on.

At the lower cable car station, we took the last group picture and said good-bye with joy.

 (Written by Keita)投稿者 TENGU Takao-san English Volunteer Guide Club