Report on the TENGU Tour held on 26 April 2017

While it was cloudy yesterday, the weather held steady during the tour. We started the tour at 10:00 am, 30 minutes later than usual.

Our guests were a couple from Australia. This time, they visited their daughter who lives in Tokyo with her family including two children (i.e. grandchildren for them).

The husband originally from the Netherlands used to be in the IT business and have been enjoying his retirement life for the last 17 years and is now an enthusiastic photographer while his wife originally from South Africa has long been in the pharmaceutical business and is expected to become the regional head of the Rotary Club next year.

They explained to us that they got to know each other in the cyberspace or the Internet.  So, adopting the most up-to-date style of marriage, they didn’t need the assistance of Dragon King Krikara, the god of match-making enshrined at Mount Takao.

On the way, we took a cable car leaving 10:30 am and then followed Trail No. 1 going through the precinct of Yakuo-in Temple that is the main religious structure in Mount Takao and then headed for the peak of Mount Takao.

Just after we got off the cable car, we saw a group of Japanese tourists guided by one of the young Buddhist monks of Yakuo-in in the costume of mountain priest blowing a trumpet shell, which was the great subject for the enthusiastic photographer.

We also saw a lot of elementary school children on their school trip to Mount Takao and also interestingly a cheerful group of hairdressers on the way.

Mainly because we started later than usual by 30 minutes, we arrived at the main hall of Yakuo-in around noon so that we heard the temple bell rung 9 times there.

We arrived at the peak of Mount Takao around 0:30 pm. Fortunately, school children and hairdressers had already started on their way home. So, we could easily find vacant stone benches. After having lunch there, we took photos with our guests.

Although it was always cloudy during the tour, we managed to see a part of the figure of Mount Fuji from the peak of the mountain which is fortunate.

On the way back, we took an easier route to avoid too many stairways for the Rotarian who has injured knees and took a cable car again.

Coming back to the foot of the mountain around 2:30 pm., we said "Good-bye" to our guests in front of the Takaosanguchi Station. Looks like our guests enjoyed the tour very much, which is great.

Written by Shiro

Close Encounters of the Musasabi

On clear fine day of April 14th, we had three guests from Tokyo SGG club which offer guide service to the visitors from abroad. These days some international tourists wish to visit Mt Takao in order to feel unaffected Japanese nature.

We met up at Takaosan-guchi station of Keio-line at 9:30 AM, then went up using cable car to midway, Takaosan-eki. From where we took Trail no-1. Along the trail, we enjoyed panoramic view from Kasumida observatory, explained about Musasabi, Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel, Octopus cedar tree, history of Mt. Takao, Tengu's tale, mixture of Buddhism and Shintoism and Yakuo-in temple.

At summit, we were able to see beautiful Mt. Fuji through spring hazy air.

After lunch at top, we took trail no-4 for return to foot. After crossing point of Irohanomori-trail, long before Suspension bridge, we saw it! Musasabi at the middle of ceder tree. they are nocturnal animals. Maybe it was not able to go back it's nest before sun rise for some reasons.

Then it flaw to next ceder tree. We are very, very lucky. After this unexpected encounter, we became too cautious not to meet any rare opportunity of unluckiness.

                                                                             (Comson)

Tour Report, March 12, 2017. Hiwatari Matsuri

All in all, an eventful day

 

 When we first met our guest Ms. L. from Malaysia at the station, she spent no moment in nodding with a big smile to our sudden relaying enquiry originally raised by a gentleman, Mr. M. from Vietnam whether he could join our tour.

Another affirmative reply of Ms. L. followed soon to the enquiry by Mr. M. weather she might be a Buddhist.

He didn’t ask it without a reason.

Although he showed almost no interest in a fire ritual of the temple, he prayed in many places in the most serious and ardent manner I’ve never seen before.

Asking my colleague Kimie to guide at some regular points, we took a luncheon earlier than the norm before restarting to walk down on a natural trail called Inariyama around noon to arrive at the site of “Walking on Fire Festival” around 1:30 well in time for all of us to enjoy this showy ritual including sights of “firing” and “first monk walker”.

 

 At the summit

Flaring flame on the alter

  

Monk purifying his body  with hot water

 

Monks walking on “Hot Ashes”

This was not the end of the tour.

Saying thanks and good-bye to Mr. M. and Kimie at the station, Ms. L. and myself headed to the site of “Japanese Plum Festival”, one of the most successful events of the city, to enjoy its full bloom.  

(by Sumo)

Tengu Tour on March 11, 2017

Report on the TENGU Tour held on 11 March 2017

Although it was still cold in the morning, the weather was fine. Our guests were a "relatively" newly married couple from Brazil. They have been living in Tokyo for the last two years. Looks like they are still lovey-dovey.

On the way, we took a cable car leaving 10:00 am and then followed Trail No. 1 going through the precinct of Yakuo-in Temple that is the main religious structure in Mount Takao and then headed for the peak of Mount Takao.

We arrived at the main hall of Yakuo-in earlier than usual.  So, we could see a group of Buddhist priests march in procession to the main hall to hold the Goma Fire Ritual scheduled at 11:00 am.

Although the weather was reasonably good and we managed to see Tokyo Sky Tree, high-rise buildings in Shinjuku, etc. from "Kasumimae Observation Deck", we could not get the whole picture of Mount Fuji from the peak of the mountain due to some unwanted clouds, which was unfortunate.

We took lunch around the peak of the mountain.  On the way back, we took a different route on foot following firstly Trail No. 1 switching to Iroha no Mori Trail, and then followed Trail No. 4 going through a suspension bridge called "Miyama-bashi Bridge" which was exciting to our guests and then again back to Trail No. 1.

By the lunch time, it got warm enough to see some young guys wearing just T-shirts.  Spring is just around the corner.

Coming back to the foot of the mountain around 2:00 pm., we took a picture together with the guests, then said "Good-bye" to them.

Written by Shiro

Report of Feb.19 Tour

It was a blue sky in these days in Mt. Takao and a little bit cold wind. .

Today the guests from Vietnam and Brasil In total 8 persons joined to this tour. It was nearly 40 degrees in Rio de Janeiro but here only 5 degrees.. Big difference of the climate.between Japan and Brasil ,Vietnam..

We went up by the cable car 6 minutes to the top station and to start to walk on the ridge east to west looking at the view of Tokyo City,the Pacific coast, Sagami Bay .

All the way to the top of the mountain are prepared well but still remained a little snow beside the ridge. The visitors could enjoy to see the real snow.

After one hour walking we reached the top of the mountain and appeared all of sudden Mt Fuji covered snow. among misty mountain area. This month also we were able to get nice view from the mountain top.

Then we had lunch at the top of the mountain . After lunch we started to walk down and 4 persons by the chair lift and the others walked down 30 minutes on No.! route together with other staff.

Today we could see rich forest and breathe cool and clean air in this mountain area..

This tour finished at 2:45 in the afternoon. 

Enjoy to stay in Japan and good trip. Thank you.

Written by Miguel

Report of Feb.04 Tour

 It was a blue sky and fine weather here in Mt. Takao area and no wind at all. We expected to be able to get nice view from the observation deck and the top of the mountain. In total 16 guests from Southeast Asia, South Pacific, Middle East, and Africa joined to this good luck tour. We went up by the cable car to 472m point and to start to walk on the ridge east to west breathing clean and cool air in the forests.

 All the way to the top of the mountain are paved and prepared for the visitors. On the way we passed the historical temples and shrine to feel Japanese ancient time. After one hour walking we reached the top of the mountain and appeared the nice clear image of Mt Fuji covered snow. 

 We shot many photos of Mt. Fuji. Then we had lunch near there and start to walk down to the Chair Lift station. 

 We could see rich forest and breathe cool and clean air. This tour finished at 2 o`clock in the afternoon.

Good stay in Japan and good luck to go back to your country. Thank you.  (Miguel)

Tour Report for 15 January 2017

It was a cold morning, minus 4 degree Centigrade, in Hachioji, Tokyo.

Though there was no wind and was a sun shine, it became warm and bright day. 

We had three guests – from Germany and Scotland, and US – who are in warm clothes with hand gloves.

However they are young and active enough to walk down along the pass, without using the chair lift.

Just under the summit of Takao, we had seen the “Shimobashira – icy plant” unexpectedly. That was a big fun.

( The photo comes from HP of Takao visitor center.)

After finishing the guide tour, I had met with the guest from US, who is in wonder how to enter into the Takao Hot Spring, at the entrance of it again.

I had enjoy the warmness and relaxation of the hot spring.

I “hope” she also had good moment in the hot spring, as I cannot conform from the male unit.

Yoshi,

the tour leader of the day.