The One about Mount Takao in Hachioji Part 4 – The Mount Takao Monkey Park and Wild Flower Garden
The One about Mount Takao in Hachioji Part 3 – What to do at Kiyotaki Station
The One about Mount Takao in Hachioji Part 2 – On the Way to Kiyotaki Station
The One about Mount Takao in Hachioji Part 1 – Arriving at Takaosanguchi Station
When you leave the Gogenchaya area, within a few minutes, you will then see giant cedar trees while making your way up. These row of cedar trees are called “Takaosan no Sugi-Namiki”.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, you will see a row of cedar trees as you approach the ground of Takao-san Yakuou-in, which is very unique to Tokyo. This row is composed of more than 10 cedar trees with a giant cedar at the beginning. Although the 26th typhoon ravaged the area back in September 24, 1966, the giant cedar trees survived.
The giant cedar is 47 meters (154 feet) high and has a trunk of 5.6 m in circumference. But because the cedars are old, the trunk of some of them is hollow near the roots.
Within five minutes of walking through Takaosan no Sugi-Namiki, you will now approach an area that many people have come to see, Takao-san Yakuo-in.
You will now see the Shitenno-mon Gate. According to Mount Takao etiquette:
To the right of the main gate, Shitenno-mon, is a statue of Shungen Daitoku. Make a bow before it and then go through the gate into the temple precinct. Wash you hands and rinse your mouth at the stone basin built beneath a simple roof supported by wooden pillars. Bow again before ascending the flight of steps leading up to the Main Hall.
In tomorrow’s post, we will discuss what happens when you pass Shitenno-mon Gate.
