Whether you’re a hiking enthusiast, nature lover, or history buff, Nokogiriyama mountain is a great hidden gem located just over 3 hours from Tokyo by train (or approximately 1.5 hours by car).
What a mountain!
Accessible to the top by hiking up or a scenic cable car ride, this mountain offers a unique blend of natural beauty and history. Once an important stone quarry during the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), the mountain has strikingly jagged right-angled cliffs. From the summit, you can enjoy stunning views of the entrance of Tokyo Bay and even Mt. Fuji on clear days.
History buffs will not want to miss Nihon-ji Temple, located at the southern base and dating back over 1,300 years. In addition to 500 small statues of various deities dotted around the temple grounds, you will find one of Japan’s largest Buddhas, reaching a height of 31 meters and impressively carved into the granite of the mountainside.
Access
Nokogiriyama is located in Chiba Prefecture. It can be accessed from Tokyo Station in about 3 hours by train via the Sobu and Uchibo lines, or by a combination of bus and train. If you have access to a car, it’s only a 1.5-hour drive.
