Living
Japan: Mount Nokogiri has lots to see and climb
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Stars and Stripes November 16, 2011
okubog@pstripes.osd.mil Grant Okubo
Stars and Stripes November 16, 2011
One of the main sights to see during a visit to Nokogiri-yama is the Nihon-ji Daibatsu (great Buddha statue); which measures a colossal 101 feet. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
One of the main sights to see during a visit to Nokogiri-yama is the Nihon-ji Daibatsu (great Buddha statue); which measures a colossal 101 feet. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
At the top of Mount Nokogiri is a spectacular view from Jigoku-nozoki (a peep at hell), a rock platform. Friends of mine posed near the edge of the cliff on a recent trip there. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
The top of Mount Nokogiri offers a spectacular view overlooking Tokyo Bay. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
The trek up Mount Nokogiri was a little more challenging than expected with the seemingly endless stairs leading to the top. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Along the trail up Mount Nokogiri are about 1,500 miniature statutes of the disciples of Buddha. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Traveling up Mount Nokogiri, you can see a display of about 1,500 miniature statutes of the disciples of Buddha scattered along the path. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Above: Just below the Jigoku-nozoki is the Hyaku Shaku Kannon, a statue of Buddha dedicated to Japanese soldiers killed in World War II. Hyakusatsu Kannon measures about 100 feet and is carved into the cliff. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Photos by Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes One of the main sights during a visit to Mount Nokogiri in Chiba prefecture in Japan is the Nihon-ji Daibatsu — the great Buddha statue — which stands at a colossal 101.9 feet. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
It never ceases to amaze how many wonderful sights there are to see in Japan.
On a recent day trip to Mount Nokogiri — sawtooth mountain — in Chiba prefecture in Japan with friends, I saw yet another spectacular and magical travel destination. This one was filled with great views and had a really enormous Buddha.
This modest-sized mountain that runs along the southern end of the Boso Peninsula rises about 1,080 feet above sea level and is home to a Buddhist temple built in the year 725.
The massive Buddha statue, Nihon-ji Daibatsu, is more than 100 feet tall and greets visitors at the foot of the mountain. The statue, built in 1783, is much larger than the famous Great Buddha of Kamakura, Daibutsu, which is about 40 feet in height.
After a taking snapshots, we proceeded up the mountain. If trekking isn’t your thing, there is a ropeway, which costs 600 yen, to get you to the top. We decided to get the complete experience and take on Mount Nokogiri’s 2,639 steps.
Going up the mountain is definitely a workout. As you go up the steps of Mount Nokogiri, you’ll see 1,500 miniature statues of the disciples of Buddha along the path.
Our trek up the Stairmaster from hell eventually paid off when we found ourselves at the top. What a spectacular view! From the summit, I took in a view of Tokyo Bay, the surrounding mountains along the Boso Peninsula and the always prominent silhouette of Mount Fuji in the distance.
One of the best vantage points at the summit is from Jigoku-nozoki — a peep at hell. The view from the rock platform jutting from the cliff certainly didn’t invoke any sense of hell. It was very safe, with guard railings to prevent anyone from falling off the cliff. It’s also a great place to take photos.
Just below the Jigoku-nozoki is the Hyaku Shaku Kannon, a statue of Buddha dedicated to Japanese soldiers killed in World War II. Built in 1966 and measuring 30.3 meters, the Hyakusatsu Kannon is carved into the side of the cliff.
okubog@pstripes.osd.mil