Report on TENGU tour held on 26 April 2024

 

The weather was reasonably good and our guest appeared to have fully enjoyed a hiking in the fresh green leaves.

 Our guest was a lady from Singapore and TENGU guides included me and Nosan as a tour leader.

In front of Takaosanguchi Station

She wanted to take a walk on the way and on the way back rather than taking a cable car or a chair lift.

So, I suggested that we might firstly follow Trail 6 switching to Biwataki Falls Trail, where we can see the site for the Shugendo practice of a standing under a waterfall, which was originally done by mountain priests to purify their minds and bodies before their full-scale Shugendo training, and then follow Trail 1 which is the front approach of Yakuo-in Temple. 

 Shugendo refers to the fusion of Buddhism and Shinto, an indigenous religion of Japan based on nature worship.

Biwa-taki Fudo-do located at the southern foot of Mt. Takao

I thought that on that basis our guest should be able to enjoy both the rich nature of Mt. Takao and the unique cultural aspect of Japan going through the precincts of Yakuo-in Temple.

 We started the walking tour around 9:30 am.

Although I thought that my suggestion should be best fitting in with the requirement of our guest while Nosan gave us a warning that Biwataki Falls Trail is one of the steepest routes.

 

Biwataki Falls Trail

His warning turned out to be very true, especially, for me, in the course of following this very steep mountain trail while our guest appeared to have no problem in keeping pace with well-trained Nosan’s steps.

 Consequently, when we reached the merging point of Biwataki Falls Trail and Trail 1, I had been so exhausted while the other two (2) appeared still full of vitality even after overcoming this choke point during the hiking tour.

 I realized that I’m not young any longer and need a daily training as my fellow member of TENGU actually does.  

 Our guest was kind and thoughtful enough to offer her exhausted guide and his fellow a sweet candy.

 After we reached Trail 1, we just followed the ordinary route passing by some of the landmarks at Mt. Takao such as the Monkey Park, the Octopus Cedar Tree, the Joshinmon Gate, etc. heading for the Yakuo-in Temple.

 

                                Touching the statue of Octopus for diving blesssing

                      Artwork by anonymous local artist to celebrate “Children’s Day”

We reached the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple around 11:40 having comfort break.

 Firstly, our guest purified herself by visiting the purification basin and then was guided on a lot of good examples of the fusion of Buddhism and Shinto there.

 

                                          In front of the Main Hall of Yakuo-in Temple

           Taking a picture of Shakunage (Rhododendrons) nearby Izuna Gogendo Hall

Fortunately, we managed to see Mt. Fuji while visibility is a little bit limited.

                                  Mt. Fuji dimly visible from the peak of Mt. Takao

We had lunch together around the peak of mountain after taking photos of the graceful Mt. Fuji.

 

                                 At the lunch table around the peak

On the way back, we took a different route of Trail 4 going through a suspension bridge then back to Trail 1.

                               At the Suspension Bridge (Miyamabashi Bridge)

Via Kompiradai Observation Deck, another place which could command a fine view of Tokyo subject to the weather conditions, we came back to the foot of the mountain around 2:40 p.m. and took a photo together in front of the Kiyotaki Station, which was the end of the tour.

                            In front of the Cable Car Station (Kiyotaki Station)

                                                                                               Written by Shiro

                                                                                       Dated: 27 April 2024