I live in the vicinity of Mt. Takao which is located at the west end of Tokyo, Japan.  

Mt. Takao is known as most climbed mountain in the world welcoming some 3 million visitors per year.

According to one survey, there are annually some 7 million people who enjoy mountain climbing in the world. 

So, you can imagine how huge the number of visitors to Mt. Takao is! 

It is no wonder that Mt. Takao is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the most popular mountains for hiking in terms of the number of visitors.

Moreover, in the Michelin Green Guide, Mt. Takao is awarded the highest rank of three stars as a tourist destination in Japan along with Mt. Fuji.

This should be partly thanks to easy access (i.e. 1 hour train ride) from the center of Tokyo and partly thanks to its remarkably rich biodiversity irrespective of its small area.  

Takao literally means high mountain ridge.  

So, the name of the mountain is reasonably considered derived from its topographic features represented by the mountain ridge of Trail 1 which is the main hiking route.

The peak of the mountain is only 599 meters from the sea level, a little lower than Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest self-supporting communications tower with a height of 634 meters.

The low mountain still commands a wonderful view of Tokyo including high-rise buildings in Shinjuku and even Tokyo Skytree (subject to the then weather conditions), and is blessed with the richness of nature with a wide variety of plants and animals.

On a clear, sunny day, you should have a good chance to see Mt. Fuji from the peak of Mt. Takao.

From a cultural viewpoint, Mt. Takao has long been considered a sacred mountain associated with Shugendo, which could roughly be described as the fusion of (i) a mountain worship derived from Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan based on nature worship and (ii) Buddhism which was introduced in the 6th century to Japan from India through China and Korea.

Some of the visitors from overseas to Japan may be aware that Shugendo is also known for one of the World Heritage Sites in Japan –  Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (URL: https://www.sekaiisan-wakayama.jp/en/outline/) that is also much visited for religious and hiking purposes.

Instead, Mt. Takao has been designated as one of the Japan Heritage Sites since 2020 (URL: https://www.japan.travel/japan-heritage/full_list?tab=region&map=kanto#region).

The main religious facility in Mt. Takao is formally called Takao-san Yakuo-in Yuki-ji Temple, and more commonly known as Yakuo-in Temple. 

You could say that the whole mountain is a large complex of religious structures that mix elements of Shinto and Buddhism.

In a sense, the mountain is now something like a theme park or a convenience store of Shugendo.

I have been in the aircraft finance business since the mid-1980s which means that I’m old enough to retire from the business soon, especially, in the context of the current very difficult business environment surrounding the aviation finance industry.

In fact, taking the advice from Peter Drucker who said “There is one prerequisite for managing the second half of your life: You must begin long before you enter it” in his writing titled Managing Oneself,  I have been a national certified tour guide more formally known as National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter since 2011 just before the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, I was more active as a volunteer tour guide for visitors from overseas to Mt. Takao and some other popular tourist destinations in Japan. 

Now, from a perspective of a volunteer tour guide, I plan to start posting information about Mt. Takao and some Japanese cultural things related to it for visitors from overseas to Japan.

I also look forward to guiding some of my friends from overseas at Mt. Takao and other popular tourist destinations in Japan as the Covid-19 pandemic is ending.