Mount Nokogiri

Thanks to Scott for recommending us to visit this saw toothed mountain on Boshu Peninsula in Chiba prefecture.

We all met up and had breakfast from hens that had too many roosters in their coop. Hens can also produce eggs without roosters, so they could call themselves Eggvirgins. Not as catchy though.

Catching one of multiple trains where we witnessed a common sight in Japan, a red-headed stepchild.

We were so busy trying to catch our reflections across the street, that we failed to catch the correct bus as it turns out.

Luckily Mari noticed the bus was not going where we wanted to go. So the bus dropped us off at a road side station where we could hail a taxi.

The taxi dropped us off with minutes to spare as the attendant urged us to hurry to catch the soon departing aerial tramway.

Going up the 680 meter ride that was built back in 1962.

Standing room only.

The ride was roughly five minutes to the upper station where we got off.

Scenic views of Tokyo Bay.

I can’t read what you’re saying. We decided to grab a bite to eat as it was past noon, at the cafe with surrounding views of the mountains and coastline.

Postage due.

Group photo at the peak sign of 329 meters (1,079′).

There were multiple trails around the mountain, we just took the path of least resistance and followed the crowds.

Entering the grounds of the Nihon-ji Temple.

The steps have steps!

Life imitating art.

Passing through an area that supposedly contains 1,500 Arhat statues, which symbolizes eternal enlightment, that were carved between 1779 and 1798. All was well until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 that saw the Shogunate rule being replaced by Imperial rule, which resulted in supporters of the Emperor desecrating and destroying many of these statues, because the temple was closely linked with the Shogunate. Off with their heads.

I read that if you start counting from any statue and stop until you reach your age, that one represents you.

Who’s counting the steps?

We spotted this miniature deer, called kyon, an invasive species originally from China and Taiwan.

Purifying their sins. Need to start burning more incense.

Throwing good money after bad. Tokens of gratitude and wishing for prayers to be fulfilled.

Group photo in front of the largest Buddha statue in Japan. It took over three years to carve this 31 meter statue out of the granite mountain and was finished in 1783.

Support local. Buy local.

What goes down, must go back up.

Passing more statues on our way back up, some kept their heads. Some didn’t.

Are we there yet?

Group photo on one of the lookout spots.

Peeking into Hell. Sitting and standing on the rock overhang.

People waiting in queue to have their picture taken. Every now and then, a baka jiji will cut in front and have to be scolded. Deaf ears.

Hanging over the edge. Right below us was the 30 meter carving of Hyakushaku Kannon, Goddess of Mercy, that was completed in 1966. We missed it.

Group photo from another lookout point with the View of Hell behind us.

The Ugly American or the Hanging American?

Black Vanilla Gelato. Melts in your mouth and stays in your mouth.

No ticket usually means no ride. I guess somebody had an honest face. Honest mistake.

We got off the tramway and walked through the neighborhoods of Kanaya to get to our other mode of transportation for today.

Buying our tickets from the ferry operator that started service back in 1957. We had some time to kill so we browsed through the shops and waited for the sunset outside.

Catching the sinking sun. I thought we were in the land of the rising sun.

Group photo at one of 140 Lover’s Sanctuary scenic locations across Japan that was started by Yumi Katsura, a noted fashion designer.

The ferry ship, Shirahama-maru, sliding into port.

Chiba-kun, the prefecture mascot, ringing the bell and looking for love in all the wrong places. He should be looking in the sock drawer.

Walking up the gangplank to our roughly 40 minute ride across the bay.

Front row seats to views of the most famous icon of Japan and the surrounding waters of the most densely populated and heavily industrialized region of Japan.

Landing like Matthew Perry. The American naval officer landed here on July 14, 1853 which marked the end of Japan’s isolation from the rest of the world.

Got off the bus and caught the almost three hour train ride back to the world’s busiest train station.

We had a late steak dinner at Market Restaurant and then burned off the calories by taking a stroll towards the popular structure that was created by Robert Indiana in 1995.

Photos taken by Aida Gordon, Chico Cantu, Mari Saito, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.

Tagged as: daibutsu, gomakutsu, jigoku nozoki, jusshu ichiran observatory, kanaya shrine, nihon-ji temple, nokogiriyama, nokogiriyama ropeway, ruriko observatory, tokyowan ferry, tutenkan