Hiking Yamadera

For most visitors your visit begins from the train station a five minute walk away. Cross this beautiful river and you head towards the mountains opposite the train station.

You know this is a popular place when you see several tour buses (on a weekday!) lined up in small parking lots nearby.

I happen to visit with a school group. We were often greeted by the friendly numerous shop and restaurant staff. The streets leading to the entrance is a great place to recharge before your big hike!

When you see this sign, you have reached the main entrance to Yamadera!!

You are immediately greeted by stairs. Get used to seeing a lot of stairs on this journey.

You first approach the Konponchudo Hall. It is the oldest temple of Yamadera.

A side view of the Konponchudo Hall. It houses a special Buddha statue and a flame that has been burning over 1200 years. It can only be viewed by visitors for one month every 50 years!! See it in 2013 before the end of May. A spiritual experience.

Pay a few hundred yen admission and you are allowed to pass through the gate into an ancient world.

The famous Japanese haiku poet Basho visited Yamadera. He is remembered by this figure and a poem he wrote about his experience at the mountain temple.

You will see several small to medium-sized temples along your hike up the mountain.

Some stores right beyond the torii gate sell very reasonably priced souvenirs and snacks. Similar items are sold at a store closer to the top of the mountain but seem to be nearly double the price. Buyer beware!

Walk through the bottom gate and start climbing!

While the hike is not easy, it isn't completely unenjoyable. Buddhist statues and relics, along with abundant nature, surround you at every turn.

Stone lanterns and even gravestones are found everywhere.

Offerings are found next to Buddhist statues. More modern offerings of toys or candy can be seen next to Japanese coins.

At this point the average hiker begins to get tired. Take a short rest at Niomon Gate.

Inside the gate itself are monsters!!

Also lucky gods are inside. Many people walk through the gate without even noticing!

The gate's architecture and beauty is more obvious from the back.

As you climb further, you exit the forest and views of the valley open up. On the cliff faces you see caves. Some seem natural, but many were enlarged by temple priests ages ago to house relics.

Yep, more stairs. But now you can see some buildings too!

Some buildings are religious, while others have become stores or resting areas for caretakers of the mountain. I noticed a satellite dish on one. That can't be hundreds or years old, can it?

Several small gardens are found along the walk as well. The area is most beautiful during spring or early fall.

Several species of flower can only be found in these mountains.

After almost 30 minutes of huffing up the mountain you have reached the top. A Buddhist statue can be viewed in the temple from the outside.

Dozens of Buddhas eagerly await visitors along a side path next to the top temple.

About face, and you can find spectacular views of the valley.

A post box is found near the top of the mountain. You can write your friends or family from Yamadera with postcards from the giftshops or of course bring your own.

In many ways going down the mountain is more enjoyable. Firstly, it is a much easier walk going down. A close second is the view: it is much more open and you receive several landscape perspectives that you were not offered on your way up.

More mysterious caves are found down some side paths you may of skipped on your way up.

One of my favorite temple structures is found sandwhiched between stone. You can't go inside though because of safety concerns.

Narrow stairs lead up to a viewing platform which highlights another angle of the valley. The train station you came from looks so small from here!

Inside the viewing platform you see what look like stickers. These are old postings from villagers that made the long trek from their villages before modern transportation systems.

Another view of the valley visible on your return trip.

With all the energy you have while going down, make sure to explore anything you may have missed on the way up. Of particular interest is an area where travelers leave coins balanced precariously off and in rocks.

There are so many coins sticking out of the rocks. It should go without saying: please leave them in their place!

You exit through some gift shops, but thankfully your last few steps of your journey is through some garden areas with its own fountain. Your magical journey is now complete.