Mount Takao, Japan
Mount Takao (高尾山, Takao-san) is a mountain in the city of Hachiōji, about an hour by train from the Tokyo Shinjuku station. It is protected within Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park.
Mount Takao may not produce any grapes or wine. But walking to the summit of Mt Takao is best rewarded with some Japanese wine coming from the nearby Yamanashi prefecture. Or alternatively some tea from neighbouring Shizuoka.
For ageing walkers like me, Mount Takao has a cable car to help you ascend a good part of the mountain. And then there is a lovely 90 minute walk up to the summit. The walk has a number of steep patches, but I made it. All up, Mt Takao is 599 metres high.
Mount Takao is closely associated with the Shinto-Buddhist tengu, supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. The mountain is also renowned for Shugendō, the mountain asceticism focusing on strict discipline. A Buddhist temple, Takaosan Yakuōin Yūkiji, is located on the mountain, and attracts many visitors who pray to the tengu for good fortune. The temple belongs to the Shingon Buddhist sect.
The mountain is home to many cherry blossoms, making it a popular spot during Hanami. (I must go back!) However, due to climate change, the cherry trees are blooming earlier over time, by an average of 5.5 days.
I spent some 14 years living and then teaching part time in Tokyo. But never made it to Mt Takao until November 2023. Crazy.