Climbing Otowa Mount Fuji

When I saw the marker near this torii, I remembered what this was.

Not this music themed marker which unfortunately I do not know what it is for. There are a lot of markers at Gokoku-ji, including one to mark where the first veterinarian school in Japan was. It's actually not surprising that the location was here, since Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi really loved dogs and even enacted laws protecting them.

However there are other markers here that might give indication as to what this part of Gokoku-ji is about.

Because once you cross this bridge, you are entering another place.

Going under the white torii along the stone path.

In front of you, many more markers, and stone steps going up.

The curious thing is, many of the markers are shaped like a mountain.

While some have information on them, indicating you have reached the first stage.

One stone seems to have been chosen because it is like a natural water basin, a chozubachi.

In front of a stone engraved with the likeness of a tengu. Tengu are now thought of as protectors of mountains.

A little human made cave. Perhaps it was made to represent a lava cave like the Otainai lava caves.

Another engraving, difficult to see because it is worn down. Perhaps it is 木花咲耶姫 , Konohanasakuya-hime, also known as Sakuya-hime, protector who keeps volcanos from erupting and protects women during child birth.

Back to the "mountain". Because a mountain is what this hill represents.

I wondered if anyone has documented what all of the markers are for.

Some of the makers along the stone path indicate "stages", as if you are climbing a mountain.

I think I see the top.

This hill has been here a very long time. I wonder if Edo nobles would walk up here.

The little white shrine and post next to it are newer. I think the marker next to it says "big stone" 

Even though this hill is not terribly high, it felt good to reach the top.

Because I had just climbed 音羽富士, Otowa Fuji. This part of the hill is a representation of Mount Fuji's caldera.

Looking down you can get an idea of the size of this little 富士塚, Fujizuka. A Fujizuka is a small representation of Mount Fuji, built for people to climb.

The concept of this is that a person can climb a representative of Mount Fuji, without going to Mount Fuji. These began being built during Edo times and hiking up them became also a religious experience.

There are a number of these less strenuous Mount Fuji in Tokyo, and in other places in Japan. Often they are covered with rocks brought from Mount Fuji.

Back down from the mountain, my visit to Gokoku-ji Temple was completed. There was one more place I wanted to go to, so that will be my next blog post.