TENGU Takao-san English Volunteer Guide Club: 6月 2024

When I arrived at Takaosanguchi Station yesterday, it was drizzling while the weather eventually turned out to be OK for our tour clearing up as time went by.

At the peak of Mt. Takao

It was another hot day while it was nice and cool in the shade.

Our guest was a lady from Singapore who is staying in Tokyo for a while.

TENGU guides included Rie-san, Nabe-san and myself as a tour leader.

We took a cable car leaving Kiyotaki Station around 9:45 and then followed Trail 1 heading for the Yakuo-in Temple as usual.

Around the cable car Takaosan Station

We found that our guest is another Buddhist when we explained to her that Mt. Takao has long been the sacred mountain associated with Shugendo which is the fusion of Buddhism and Japanese mountain worship derived from Shinto.

So, I do believe that she should be in a good position to understand easily the uniqueness of Japanese religious culture she witnessed at Mt. Takao.

Around the Monkey Park

Touching the statue of Octopus for diving blessings

Following Trail 1, which is the front approach to Yakuo-in Temple, we found a popular display here for a festive event to celebrate Father’s Day this time, which reminded me that I’m one of the fathers.

I was wondering how many fathers in Japan were aware that it was Father’s Day yesterday.

A display of the artwork by an anonymous local artist to celebrate Farther’s Day

In front of a Tori-i Gate called “Joshinmon”, a sort of Shino style gate

At the 108 stone steps nicknamed Men’s Slope

At Yuki-en (Joyful Garden), we found that our guest is familiar with a Thai style stupa as one of the Buddhists.

In front of white stupa at Yuki-en (Joyful Garden)

She was also familiar with various Hindu gods (such as Garuda, Sarasvati, Dakini, Ganesh, etc.) based on which the statue of Izuna Daigongen, the current religious ruler of Mt. Takao, is created.

In front of the statue of Izuna Daigongen, the religious ruler of Mt. Takao

In front of Shitenno-mon (Gate of Four Heavenly Kings), a Buddhist style gate

Our guest purifying herself before praying at the purification basin

In front of a pair of TENGU statues, which is another symbol of Mt. Takao

Our guest washing her coins to multiply them at the Hall of Eight Dragon Kings

Our guest offering incense sticks in front of the Main Hall of Yakuo-in Temple

We were lucky enough to have an opportunity to see Asagimadara (chestnut tiger butterfly) dancing around very close up just before we got to the peak of the mountain.

Asagimadara dancing around

We got to the peak of Mt. Takao around noon.

Unfortunately, there were a little too many unwanted clouds to see the graceful figure of Mt. Fuji.

Unlucky guys at the peak of Mt. Takao

We had lunch together around the peak of mountain stating around 12:15

At the lunch table around the peak of the mountain

After having lunch, we took a group photo at the peak of the mountain, which photo appears at the top of this post.

As we understood that the preference of our guest is the route involving more natural mountain trails, we took a different route on the way back.

That is, we followed briefly Trail 1, switching to Iroha no Mori Trail and then to Trail 4 going through a suspension bridge (Miyamabashi Bridge) and finally back to Trail 1 again.

On Iroha no Mori Trail

Suspension Bridge (Miyamabashi Bridge)

After following Trail 1 briefly, we then walked down Biwataki Falls Trail, which is one of the steepest mountain trails via Kasumidai Observation Deck.

A view of Tokyo from Kasumidai Observation Deck

On Biwataki Falls Trail

We showed our guest the training site for mountain priests at Mt. Takao where they practice under the waterfall purification.

At Biwataki Fudo-do Hall

We came back to the foot of the mountain around 14:30 and then took a group photo in front of the cable car Kiyotaki Station, which was the end of the tour.

In front of Kiyotaki Station

Looks like our guest enjoyed the tour, which is good, and is planning to come back to Mt. Takao in the near future.

I understand that on that occasion she would plan to follow one of the more challenging hiking courses on the way such as Trail 6, along a mountain stream and Inariyama Trail, along a mountain ridge.

Written by Shiro

Dated: 17 May 2024

Today’s guest is a young lady from Kenya. We started earlier than the planned 9:15 am that made the tour relaxing and leisurely without need to worry about the time. Though the sky was rather gray, when we had started, it kept improving and we could enjoy spring sunshine and blue sky almost all part of the tour. We took the cable-car, going up and walk via the Trail No.1 to the Yakuoin temple and to the summit.

in the cable car

at the vantage point

We stopped and guided on many points of interest on the way.

a guide and an earnest listener

challenging the endless stone steps

all smiles at the Joyful Garden after conquering the stone steps

We arrived at Yakuoin temple and firstly, we called on Teng, a guardian of the mountain and the messenger of God, to pay our respect.

Tengu with supernatural power

Before visiting Yakuoin temple, the guide taught the guest how to purify yourself at “Purification Basin”

Learning how to purify yourself

Look！They are really purified！

Red Torii at Yakuoin temple

In spite of our hope, Mt. Fuji was shy today but we proudly took this photo at the summit to declare we had conquered Mt. Takao and its torturing stone steps.

The proud climbers

On the way down, we visited the popular suspension bridge via Trail No.4, then back to Trail no.1. The chair lift brought us down to Kiyotaki station, where the guest enjoyed souvenir shopping for her family.