Mt. Nokogiri (Nokogiriyama) in Chiba

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Facts & Figures

Mount Nokogiri with a height of 329 meters is located within the Chiba Prefecture at the Boso Peninsula. The prefecture is also known to be Tokyo's Secret Backyard and covers an area of over 5156 square kilometers. Mt. Nokogiri belongs to the three most famous mountains of Chiba also called "Three Mountains of Boso". The other two are Mt. Kiyosumi (337m) and Mt. Kano (379m). Since 2004 I have traveled nearly every year to Japan. The rail pass made my life easier to discover all those amazing places in my favorite country.
 Get Your Pass Now and Save! > On the western side of Mount Nokogiri, you will find the Nihon-ji temple complex with its huge Nihonji Daibutsu (Great Buddha) statue. It is one of the largest in Japan. The temple is a very popular tourist destination in Chiba and my must-see recommendation for you. The top of the mountain can be easily reached by a scenic ropeway or via a relaxing hiking tour. The view over Tokyo Bay and the Boso Peninsula from the summit observatory was simply an unforgettable experience.

History

The creation of the Nihonji Daibutsu (Great Buddha) dates back to the late 1700s. With 31m the statue is twice the size of the Kamakuras Great Buddha. After damages through earthquakes and bad weather conditions the Nihonji Daibutsu was restored in 1966. The Chiba prefecture itself was founded in 1873 after the Inba Prefecture and Kisarazu Prefecture were merged.

Sightseeing spots in the Mount Nokogiri area

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Mount Nokogiri - The mountain offers great views over Tokyo Bay and is a very popular hiking area.

Nihonji Daibutsu (Great Buddha) - It is the largest pre-modern and stone-carved Buddha Statue in Japan. Artist Jingoro Eirei Ono and his 27 disciples created the statue over a period of 3 years.

Nihon-ji Temple - The Soto Zen Buddhist temple was founded in 725 by priest Gyoki (668–749) by the order of Emperor Shomu (701 - 756). It has the status of an Important Cultural Property.

Hyaku-shaku Kannon Statue - The statue has a height of 30 meters. It is a relief of the Buddhist goddess of mercy. The relief was carved on the remains of a stone quarry within 6 years.

Ruriko Observatory and Jigoku-nozoki (“Hell Peek Point” lookout) - This unique rock formation made out of granite offers spectacular views. The whole site was a quarry during the Edo period (1603 - 1868) and these stones were used for buildings like the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

Sengohyaku Rakan - 1500 small Buddha sculptures can be found along the hiking paths up to the top of Mount Nokogiri. Artist Jingoro Eirei Ono and his 27 disciples worked on these sculptures for 19 years from 1779 to 1798.

Scenic Ropeway - The ropeway was built in 1962 for 200million yen. The round-trip ticket for adults costs 900 yen and for children 450 yen.

Festival & Events (dates can change without notice)

April

Cherry Blossom (mid-April)
Chiba is a great place to enjoy the Sakura Season.

August

Tateyama Fireworks Festival (8th)
It is a very famous fireworks event in Chiba. Enjoy the hot summer air and watch this amazing Obon Matsuri (fireworks festival). It goes from 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm.