Our 102nd entry in this blog is our trip to Mount Tenjo through the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway in Yamanashi, Japan.  There are two ways to reach the summit of Tenjo.  The first option is to make your way up on foot using the hiking trail.  This takes approximately 45 minutes.  The second – and more popular – option is to take the Ropeway ride (also called the Kachi Kachi Ropeway).

There are several large statues of a rabbit and a tanuki (raccoon dog) within the area. These colorful characters are from an old Japanese folktale titled Kachi Kachi Yama, and Mount Tenjo is actually the setting for the tale.  Also known as Kachi-Kachi Mountain, it is a Japanese folktale in which a tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) is the villain.  It is quite a tragic story, you might want to read it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kachi-kachi_Yama
Here is Ate Rei, who doesn’t know the story yet, and who finds the tanuki too cute, is begging me to take a photo with the character.  Hehe… I wonder what her reaction will be as soon as she reads the story 🙂  And also some Tanuki dumplings which are baked over charcoal are a must taste specialty in this mountain.

Next to the cafe is a shrine also dedicated to the rabbit from the tale.  The Usagi (Rabbit) Shrine.  There are 2 rabbits standing side by side.  The Fujimi Usagi, a stone statue of a rabbit facing Mt. Fuji, whom you can stroke to get strong legs.  The other one is the Yumemi Usagi, a stone statue of a dreaming rabbit, whom you can stroke to gain wisdom.

While relaxing and watching the wide view of the Lake (unfortunately, it is cloudy today so only the base of Mt. Fuji is to be seen), Ate Rei, Sai, and Papa Dave are having their cold snacks of ice cream 🙂  In the photo below is also the Bell of Tenjo.  People ring the bell to vow to love each other.  It is said your wish will come true if you ring the bell while watching Mt. Fuji.

“While most visitors take a round trip on the ropeway, there is also a hiking trail from the observation deck down the forested mountain slope which takes about 30 minutes to descend. A different trail leads from the observation point 300 meters uphill to a small shrine at the summit of Mount Tenjo, from there the trail continues on to Mount Mitsutoge, a popular day hike with good views of Mount Fuji.” -japan-guide.com

And that was our quick visit to Mount Tenjo.  It was starting to get cold on top so we decided to head down to the lake area for another sightseeing trip.  See you around Mt. Tenjo!  🙂