Mount Nokogiri, Mountain summit in Kyonan, Japan.
Mount Nokogiri is a summit made of tuff stone in Kyonan and Futtsu that rises 329 meters (1,080 feet) above sea level and forms a sharp silhouette over Tokyo Bay. The slopes are cut by vertical sections in several places, left from the time when stone was quarried here.
A Buddhist temple complex was founded here in 725 and drew pilgrims and monks for centuries who left behind statues and carvings. During the Edo period the site became a major quarry supplying material for buildings in the growing capital.
The name means Saw Mountain and refers to the jagged shape of the ridge that remains visible from far away. Stonemasons worked the rock faces over centuries and left behind a rugged landscape that stands today between the forests and Buddhist figures.
Hiking trails lead up from Hama‑kanaya harbor, or visitors can take the ropeway that covers the elevation in a few minutes. The paths are usually well maintained but can turn slippery on steep sections and in wet weather, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
The Jigoku‑Nozoki observation platform juts out over a vertical cliff and offers views of Tokyo Bay and as far as Fuji on clear days. Stone carvers chiseled more than 500 Buddhist figures into the rock walls that stand scattered along the trails.
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