The (long delayed) Tateyama Adventure

Took Place: Aug. 11
Written: Sept. 2

     Tateyama or Mount Tate is one of the three holy mountains in Japan (along with Fuji and  Haku).  I have heard it referred to as “where the gods live.” In my mind I refer to it as the “happy mountain” (because obviously it is compared to Fuji or as I think of it Mount Doom).  

     Anyway Tateyama happens to be in my home ken of Toyama and as part of my orientation I had the opportunity to hike it or to go to the onsen.  This was before mount doom and I chose to hike!  It was wonderful.  You get up in the cool fresh mountain air and go for a lovely hike and at the end of it there is a shrine (Shinto I believe, possibly called the Oyama shrine but I could be messing that up) and a priest to bless you and give you sake.  I thoroughly enjoyed my day even if we did spend some of it in the mists/clouds rather than with a view.

(Ill add more photos later, but I did not take any of the priest or shrine at the top because I was not sure if it would be polite or not)