Subscribe
The ropeway route looking down from the top of Mount Nokogiri. The 5 minute ride provides the rider with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

The ropeway route looking down from the top of Mount Nokogiri. The 5 minute ride provides the rider with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. (David J. Carter / S&S)

The ropeway route looking down from the top of Mount Nokogiri. The 5 minute ride provides the rider with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

The ropeway route looking down from the top of Mount Nokogiri. The 5 minute ride provides the rider with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. (David J. Carter / S&S)

The ropeway station at the top of Mount Nokogiri. The 5 minute ride down lowers you over 2,300 feet of evevation.

The ropeway station at the top of Mount Nokogiri. The 5 minute ride down lowers you over 2,300 feet of evevation. (David J. Carter / S&S)

The diabutsu sits in the mountain side at the Nihon-ji Temple on Mount Nokogiri. The Buddha sits 90 feet tall and is one of the largest in the country.

The diabutsu sits in the mountain side at the Nihon-ji Temple on Mount Nokogiri. The Buddha sits 90 feet tall and is one of the largest in the country. (David J. Carter / S&S)

Some of Japan’s best-kept secrets lie in the mountains that dress the land.

For some, the journey of getting to the landmarks is just as exciting as the breathtaking pieces themselves.

Buried in the mountains of the Chiba Prefecture is the Nihon-ji Temple. Constructed in 725 A.D., it’s one of the oldest temples in eastern Japan.

To get to it, though, you’ll take an exciting trip by land, sea and air.

The temple features one of the largest daibutsu (Japanese for large Buddha) statues in Japan, and picturesque views. Unlike many of the other daibutsu you may see throughout the country, the Nihon-ji’s is particularly unique. Standing at more than 90 feet tall, the statue is carved into the side of the mountain. To reach it, you’ll have to take a ropeway gondola to the top of Mount Nokogiri, just a short walk from the Port of Kanaya ferry station. The ropeway, built in the 1960s, offers a roughly five-minute ride up the 2,300-foot mountain. The ropeway station at the top of the mountain features 180-degree views of the bay below, and on clear days, Mount Fuji.

A short walk down a path from there leads to the entrance of the Nihon-ji Temple, which has six points of interest including the two separate large Buddha carvings, a temple and several observatories. Keeping a steady pace, you can take in all six in about an hour-and-a-half.

The walk across the mountainside is quite demanding, and the path weaves up and down hundreds of stairs. The trek would be best left to adults and older children.

Spread throughout the mountainside walk are more than1,500 r–akan (Buddhist saint) statues. Carved by a master artisan and his 27 apprentices, each statue bears a different expression.

At the daibutsu, there is a nice area to picnic or take in the scenery of the city below. A gift shop and vending machines come in handy after the hike.

If you’re planning on making a day out of it, make sure to start early. The last ropeway car leaves the mountaintop at 5 p.m. If you miss it, you’ll have to take the hourlong hike down the mountain.

The ferries run between the Port of Kurihama and Port of Kanaya about every half hour, so you’ll have an easy time getting back across the bay before dark.

Directions: From Yokosuka Naval Base, take Route 16 south, following signs for Kurihama. Upon arriving, look for the Tokyo-Wan ferry station and a place to park. Leave your car for the day for 1,000 yen, or pay 3,000 yen to take it across to Chiba.

The ferry ride (900 yen for adults, 400 yen for children) takes about 45 minutes and has food and drink on board. Once you reach the Port of Kanaya, take a right on the main road in front of the ferry port. At the third street light, you’ll see a torii gate marking the entrance to the ropeway on your left. The ropeway is about 900 yen roundtrip. The Nihon-ji Temple is 600 yen for adults, 400 yen for children.

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now