TENGU Takao-san English Volunteer Guide Club: 10月 2026

2026年10月15日木曜日

A Memorable Visit to Mt. Takao: Experiencing the Goma Fire Ritual at Yakuoin Temple

On October 12, Japan’s Sports Day, we enjoyed perfect autumn hiking weather and were delighted to welcome a lovely couple from the UK to Mt. Takao.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly participating in the Goma fire ritual at 2:00 PM in the main hall of Yakuoin Temple. With this special experience as the centerpiece of our tour, we met our guests in front of Takaosanguchi Station at noon.

After exchanging greetings and giving a brief introduction to the tour in front of the statue of the sweeper boy, we headed straight to the cable car station to make the most of our time.

(in the cable car)

After getting off the cable car, we stopped at the Kasumidai Observation Deck and Tako-sugi, the famous octopus-shaped cedar tree. Along the way, we introduced the rich forest ecosystem of Mt. Takao before continuing through Joshinmon Gate and taking the gentle Onnazaka Trail.

(in front of Joshinmon Gate)

At a bench in front of Gongen Chaya, we enjoyed some delicious Japanese dango (sweet rice dumplings), along with sandwiches and other food, during a relaxing lunch break.

(enjoying Japanese dango)

After lunch, we passed the cedar sapling dedication boards and Shitenno-mon Gate before arriving at the Goma Ritual Reception Desk to register for the ceremony. We then paid our respects at the main hall before taking part in the Goma fire ritual.

(praying at Yakuoin Temple)

Photography was not permitted during the ceremony, so we were unable to take any pictures. Nevertheless, our guests thoroughly enjoyed this rare and memorable opportunity to experience the solemn and majestic atmosphere of a traditional Buddhist fire ritual.

Following the ceremony, we took the gentle Fuji-michi Trail to the summit of Mt. Takao. Although Mount Fuji was partially obscured by haze, we were still fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of this iconic mountain from the summit.

(at the summit of Mt. Takao)

After a short rest at the summit, we followed Trail 1 to Izuna Gongen-do Hall. There, we explained the significance of the torii gate and the guardian komainu statues before heading to Yuki-en Garden.

(in front of the steps for Izuna Gongen-do Hall)

We then visited the Buddhist stupa in Yuki-en Garden and passed through Kunuke-mon Gate, known as the Gate for Leaving Suffering Behind. From there, we descended the 108 steps of Otokozaka, the steep men’s slope, and made our way to the chairlift station.

(descending Otokozaka)

Although we had to wait approximately 30 minutes for the chairlift, we arrived at Kiyotaki Station at almost exactly 5:00 PM. After taking a group photo to commemorate the day, we said goodbye to our guests.

(at the cable car station)

It was a long but rewarding day, combining the natural beauty of Mt. Takao with the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of Yakuoin Temple. We hope this special experience will remain a cherished memory of their visit to Japan !

Written by Shin

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2026年10月6日火曜日

Report on TENGU Tour held on 3 October 2026

Our guests were a group of ten (10) JICA trainees from overseas. TENGU guides included Sally, Rie, Akao, Yuan and myself as a tour leader.

This time, we divided our gusts into two (2) groups with Group A led by myself and Group B led by Sally.

After the briefing on the dos and don’ts at Mt. Takao, the tour plan on that day, etc. in front of Takaosanguchi Station, we started the tour around 9:40 am.

In front of Takaosanguchi Station

At the foot of the mountain, we showed our guests the statue of Osoji-kozo (young Buddhist trainee monk cleaning the temple) as a symbol of our Mt. Takao clean-up campaign that has proven highly effective and successful, and then statues of Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel, another symbol of Mt. Takao.

In front of the statue of Osoji-kozo

In front of the statue of Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel

Group A took a cable car leaving Kiyotaki Station at 10:00 am while Group B took the next one.

In the cable car

It appears that the persistent autumn rains have come to an end.　So, the weather was reasonably good that we managed to see Tokyo Skytree and high-rise buildings in Shinjuku from Sumika-mae Observation Deck, though hazy.

At Sumika-mae Observation Deck

At Kasumidai Observation Deck

After getting off the cable car, we showed our guests various landmarks such as some 500-year-old Octopus Cedar Tree, six-sense purification stone, wheels, Joshin-mon tori-i gate symbolizing the fusion of Shinto and Shingon sect of Buddhism, etc. along Trail 1.

At the statue of lucky octopus

At the Joshin-mon tori-i gate

At the information board about “Asagimadara” with its English name of Chestnut Tiger Butterfly, we, Group A guides, explained that the butterflies are famous for their incredible long-distance migration across Asia and that they are toxic in both their caterpillar and adult stages because their caterpillars feed on milkweed plants called “Kijoran” which contains harmful alkaloids making them unpalatable to their predators.

Interestingly, one of our guests, who is from Keniya, explained that they have a similar butterfly in their country.

At a folk on Trail 1, the front approach to Yakuo-in Temple, the majority of our guests bravely chose the more challenging route called “Otoko Zaka”, literally, the Slope for Men.

At Otoko Zaka

We spent some time at Yuki-en (Joyful Garden) featuring an outdoor fire altar and a photogenic Thai style white stupa we explained to our guests.

In front of Thai style white stupa

Before we got to the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple, we showed our guests a wooden plate mentioning TENGU as a donor to Yakuo-in Temple to demonstrate our loyalty to Mt. Takao.

Pointing to the wooden plate showing the name of TENGU as donor to Yakuo-in Temple

When Group A went into the grounds of Yakuo-in Temple going through Shitenno-mon (the Gate of Four Heavenly Kings), it was around 11:30 am, which indicates that we moved relatively slowly.

In front of Shitenno-mon (the Gate of Four Heavenly Kings)

At the purification basin

She was trying to multiply her coins by washing then at the mysterious spring

At the Main Hall of Yakuo-in Temple

At the Izuna Gongen-do Hall

Group A got to the peak of the mountain around 12:30 pm some 20 minutes earlier than Group B.

Unfortunately, as it was a little too cloudy, we were not able to see a graceful figure of Mt. Fuji from the peak of the mountain.

At the peak of the mountain

At the lunch table

After having lunch together, we took a group photo around the peak of the mountain with the elusive Mt. Fuji in the background, and left there around 13:40 pm.

With the elusive Mt. Fuji in the background

On the way back, after stopping by the restroom, we took a little different route by following Trail 1 briefly and then switching to Iroha no Mori Trail, then further switching to Trail 4 going through a suspension bridge.

At Ihoha no Mori Trail

At suspension bridge (Miyamabashi bridge)

On the return journey, we took a chairlift for a change.

Taking a chairlift

After coming back to the mountain base taking a chairlift, we took the final group photo in front of cable car Kiyotaki Station around 3:30 pm, which was the end of the tour.

In front of Kiyotaki Station

Some of our guests appeared to have a plan to visit Yokohama together after the tour. To that end, they asked us for an advice to check on the most efficient transit route and otherwise.

What energetic guests! My muscle pain hasn’t gone away yet!

Written by Shiro

Dated: 5 October 2026