Mount Tengura, Mountain peak in Owase, Japan.
Mount Tengura rises 522 meters above sea level in the Kii Mountains, with stone pathways running through groves of hinoki cypress. The summit is reached via a two-hour hike from Magose Toge Pass, with rest areas spaced along the steep route.
The mountain served as a training site for Shugendo monks, an esoteric Buddhist sect, around 1000 AD. A small temple at the summit honors the founder of this mountain meditation tradition.
The paths here form part of the Kumano Kodo Iseji Route, a pilgrimage trail that people have walked for centuries through these mountains. Visitors today follow the same forest routes that connected spiritual and farming communities in the region.
Sturdy footwear is needed because of steep and sometimes slippery paths, especially after rain. Starting early in the day helps ensure enough daylight for the return journey.
At the peak stands Tengu-iwa, a massive rock formation reached by ladder, offering sweeping views of Owase City and the surrounding peaks. This dramatic vantage point is the highlight most visitors seek when reaching the summit.
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