Report on TENGU Tour held on 24 May 2025

 

Our guests were a quartet from Malaysia.

 TENGU guides included Comson and Shiro.

In front of Takaosanguchi Station

The weather was mostly cloudy during the tour. 

 So, unfortunately, we were not able to see either (i) high-rise buildings in Shinjuku and Tokyo Skytree from Sumika-mae Observation Deck or (ii) the graceful figure of Mt. Fuji from the peak of Mt. Takao.

On the way,　we took a cable car leaving Kiyotaki Station at　9:20.

 At the cable car stations, we saw ‘sekkoku’(dendrobium herb), a sort of orchid growing on trees that are in full bloom around this time of the year.

Sekkoku at Kiyotaki Station

Soon after we got off the cable car, we realized that the leader of the quartet is one of the most enthusiastic hikers and was eager to follow more natural mountain trails.

 So, we decided to change our original plan that we should follow Trail 1, and head for the peak of the mountain going through the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple.

 That is, one the way, we turned left at the Joshinmon tori-i gate taking Trail 3 on the side of southern slope of Mt. Takao where we can see more evergreen broad leaf trees.

Around Joshin-mon tri-i gate (Gate of Purified Heart)

On Trail 3

Taking some rest on Trail 3

We got to the peak of the mountain much earlier than usual at 10:40 partly thanks to earlier departure and partly thanks to skipping more time-consuming guiding on Trail 1 going through the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple.  

At the peak of Mt. Takao

So, we again changed our original plan that we should have lunch around the summit.

We left the peak of the mountain before 11:00 after spending some time there.

On the way back, we took a different route briefly following Trail 1, switching to Iroha no Mori Trail then further switching to Trail 4 on the side of northern slope of Mt. Takao going through the suspension bridge. 

Walking down along Iroha no Mori Trail

At Miyama-bashi Bridge (Suspension Bridge) on Trail 4

 

We were back on Trail 1 at 11:30 around Joshin-mon tri-i gate (Gate of Purified Heart) .

 Then, based on the discussion with our guests, we decided to walk down along Trail 1 and came back to the foot of the mountain around 12:30.

 

Saihairan (Cremastra appendiculata) a sort of orchid found around Kompiradai Observation Deck

 After coming back to the mountain base, we had ‘soba noodle’ lunch together with our guests.

                                  

At soba noodle restaurant

 

We said “Good-bye” to our guests after the lunch which was the end of tour. 

 I hope that they had a nice flight back to Kuala Lumpur last night.

 

Dated:  25 May 2025

Written by Shiro