Mount Mitake, Sacred mountain in Ome, Japan.
Mitake is a peak in Ome, Japan, rising 929 meters above sea level within Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. Dense woods cover its slopes, while stone paths wind through the greenery toward the top.
In 736, the Musashi Mitake Shrine was built, marking the start of organized worship at this location. Since then, the site has drawn pilgrims seeking refuge and spiritual renewal along its sacred trails.
Priests at the summit shrine perform purification ceremonies that visitors can observe or request for blessings. Many hikers wear white pilgrimage garments and follow routes that worshippers have walked for centuries.
From Ome Station, a bus runs to the cable car base, which handles most of the climb. Hikers should wear comfortable shoes, as the stone paths can become slippery after rain.
The Rock Garden trail follows a narrow valley lined with moss-covered boulders and leads to Ayahiro Falls. From there, hikers can continue to neighboring Otake, linking two summits in one day.
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