Sunday, February 17, 2013

Takaosan

Takaosan, or Mt. Takao, is a mountain with an elevation of 599 meters. It is only an hour away from Shinjuku, so it's a very popular place for local people in Tokyo. The 2007 edition of Michelin’s Voyager Pratique Japon, the famous French travel guidebook, awarded Mt. Takao and Mt. Fuji the maximum of three stars.

[Transportation examples]
From Shibuya to Takaosan
Keio Inogashira line: Shibuya 08:21- Meidaimae 08:31
Keio line: Meidaimae 08:35 - Takaosan guchi 09:25
381 yen (IC)

From Shinjuku to Takaosan
Keio line: Keio Shinjuku 08:29 - Takaosan guchi 09:25
381 yen (IC)
http://www.takaotozan.co.jp/takaotozan_eng1/index2.htm

Some day in winter, I went to Takaosan.

You can use a cable car to the middle of Takaosan.





It is Tako Sugi, a famous big tree.


Arrived at the gate of Takaosan Yakuouin.

This temple is believed to have been built in 744 by Saint Gyoki. The temple is one of the three head quarters of the Shingon Chizan school Bhuddism with Naritasan and Kawasakidaishi. I saw a lot of foreigners here. Takaosan is very popular among foreign travelers because of Michelin Guide.

A second building.

A staircase still continues to the summit. However I stopped here today because I did not expect to observe Mt. Fuji from the peak.

You can see Mount Fuji from the peak if you are lucky with blue sky. (the photo was taken on another day in summer.)