Mount Rai, Mountain summit in Itoshima and Saga, Japan
Mount Rai is a summit reaching 954.5 meters and forms a natural boundary between Fukuoka and Saga Prefectures in the Sefuri Mountain range. The peak offers trails and viewpoints across the landscape.
The mountain underwent significant changes during the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century when Buddhist temples were dismantled as Japan shifted toward Shintoism. This period reshaped the region's religious landscape.
The shrine at the summit reflects local spiritual traditions centered on Raijin, the Japanese deity of thunder and lightning. Visitors walking through the space can sense how the mountain holds meaning in regional religious life.
The trail to the summit starts at Raizan Kannon-mae Bus Stop and takes around one hour and forty minutes to reach the top. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes and prepare for changing weather conditions.
Near the base sits the Raizan Sennyoji Daihioin Temple with 500 stone Buddha figures and a wooden Avalokitesvara bodhisattva statue from before the Meiji period. This collection reveals the religious past that preceded the mountain sanctuary.
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