The Yama-dera Temple is 1 hour 40 minutes north and west of Zoa Fox Village on the highway. On the toll road, it is 1 hour 15 minute trip. The full name of the temple is Hojusan Risshaku-ji Temple. However, many people know it as the Yama-dera Temple.
We were told that there are about 1,000 steps that take you up the side of the mountain to the temple. But I did not count them.
There are many shrines on the way up to the temple.
We decided to take photos at the base of the mountain.
When I say we climbed to the top of a mountain, that is a little of an exaggeration. It is more of a "very steep, winding path up the side of a rather large hill" that is also in the mountains.
Photos of the hike up to the temple. For those who do not know, I am a klutz and can trip over a flat surface. The stairs leading up to the temple were designed for short people (the steps are very small).
Figurines at one of the shrines.
The Niomon Gate is behind me. There were a lot of people on the stairs, so I did not want to stop in front of them to take a picture of the gate.
There is a flat path with a lovely view of the valley below.
Buddha at one of the shrines around Godaido Hall.
We did not stay up for long, so we made our way back down the trail and into town. We stopped for macha ice cream and yakitori.