By Lee Jay Walker

Travel Aug. 23, 2011 - 05:29AM JST ( 4 )

TOKYO —

Mount Takao is a lovely place to visit and for visitors, this part of Tokyo makes a welcome change from the high rise buildings of Tokyo. The stunning scenery of Mount Takao contrasts massively with the buzzing fashion districts of Tokyo. This dimension is often overlooked by many individuals when they think about this amazing city.
The religious dimension of Mount Takao is also fascinating because you will see many religious places of worship on this mountain peak and the architecture is also visually attractive. The cultural dimension of this part of Tokyo is very rich and this increases the pulling power and adds to the mystery of Mount Takao.

When you visit this place, you will see romantic couples enjoying quality time together, individuals escaping the stress of normal life, tourists, people interested in culture, religious people who want to pray and connect with their faith, hikers, families enjoying precious time, group tours, friends relaxing together, photographers and nature lovers.

However, the one common binding factor is that all enjoy the stunning scenery and the richness of culture. The changing seasons add another dimension and for locals and people who reside in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures, it means that each season adds a new experience and for this reason many local people visit several times a year.
During my visits to Mount Takao, I have witnessed the different seasons and cherished each time. Also, the history and mystery surrounding the places of worship is very appealing and you can visualize the old world and aspects of the mythology of Japan.

The reason Mount Takao is important in history and culture is because Emperor Shomu ordered the building of the Yakou-in Temple in 744. During your visit, you will see a statue of “Tengu”—believed to be a deified man who mastered ancient mountain worship. Tengu is noticeable by his long nose. The undercurrents of ancestor worship, Shintoism, and believing in the spirit world of the mountain are striking ... mythology and a wisdom now lost are symbolized by the image of Tengu.

Mount Takao is a reminder that the old world is still alive and ticking. 

Modern Tokyo Times