Tokyo

Jan 8, 2015 - 1 min read

Mount Takao’s Religious Statues

Eyes gazing down on you from every angle

By Steve Morton

Community writer

Several minutes further down this path was another eerie Jizo. This time it had a decapitated head placed next to it

Located close to the cable car entrance you will see the first of many ‘friendly looking’ statues like this one which interestingly, is holding a sweeping broom

Many of these statues are known locally as ‘Jizo’. When translated into Japanese their general meaning refers to a ‘guardian deity’ who is believed to protect travelers, women and children; (I hope they also protect males!)

A statue of Kukai (Kobo Daishi), located outside the main entrance to Yakuo-in Temple. Kukai is famous for establishing the Shingon Sect of Buddhism in Japan during the 8th Century

Although Jizo are believed to protect virtually any ‘good person’, you will see many of them decorated in red hats or bibs emphasizing the fact that many worshippers wish for this power of protection to be brought upon their offspring

On the approach to Yakuo-in Temple you will find many Jizo situated between religious stone tablets

Within the main temple precinct are several large statues depicting 'Tengu', (a long nosed mountain goblin). Interestingly, despite their scary appearance, these deities are believed to protect `good people` whilst chastising evil doers

It is also impossible to miss this gold colored statue. Situated several meters away from the two large Tengu, it is believed that you can double you money by washing it in the small well located directly in front of this bright figure; time to get washing!

A long line of Buddha’s near Yakuo-in Temple`s Okunoin Fudo-do Hall

Another line of Buddha’s close to Fuji Sengen-Sha Shrine

Close to the entrance of Okunoin Fudo-Hall is this depiction of the Guardian deity Fudo-Myo. Despite its devil like appearance, this “God of Fire” is also believed to protect and bring good fortune to worshippers

Another “boy with a broom”, this time at the top of Mount Takao

Beyond the peak of Mount Takao and on the way to Mount Kobotoke-Shiroyama, you can still find several Jizo

When hiking down from Kobotoke-Shiroyama to Lake Sagami, I encountered this ‘fully dressed’ Jizo, an interesting but also somewhat eerie sight!

Towards the end of the hiking trail on the approach to Lake Sagami, I encountered the last Jizo of the day. As with the previous two statues there was also something undeniably eerie about this one as well

Even before reaching the entrance to Mount Takao`s holy Yakuo-in Temple, you will already have noticed the endless rows of religious statues lining this mountain's long and winding slopes.

Starting from the beginning of the hiking trail, located next to the cable car station and leading all the way to the summit and beyond, you will encounter an endless array of various figures peering down at you from all angles.

Whilst many of these statues look friendly, there are also some scary looking figures of ‘Tengu’ (long nosed goblins), which are said to chastise evil doers but protect the good

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Steve Morton

By Steve Morton

Community writer

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