Let's experience the history of Mt. Asakumagatake, the mountain that protects IseJingu! Explanation of route & surrounding spots

Article production / Mie Travel Climbing Club TAKA

[Things to keep in mind when climbing]

Climbing involves dealing with nature, so there is a good chance that uncertainties and unexpected situations will occur. Be prepared, plan well, and have fun.

~table of contents~

• About the mountain called Mt. Asakumagadake
• Trivia about Mt. Asakumagatake
• About access to Mt. Asakumagatake trailhead
• Explaining the climbing route. There are also spots to stop by!
• Introducing recommended spots you should visit after climbing Mt. Asakumagatake

About the mountain called Mt. Asakumagadake

The altitude of Mt. Asakumagatake is 555m.

This mountain is unique in that it is a combination of several peaks in addition to the north peak (555m) and the south peak (approximately 540m).

By the way, it is also called `` Mt.Asama'', but its official name is ``Asakumagatake'', so please take this opportunity to remember it♪

If you know the following two other features that I will introduce later, you might be able to boast a little (!?) ^ ^

①One of only 34 national parks in the country (as of February 2023)

This area is called Ise-Shima National Park, a park designated by the country (Minister of the Environment).

The scenery seen from Mt. Asakumagatake has been recognized as one of the ``100 Views of Japan'' and is a place with excellent history and scenery.

You can reach this place by car, so even people who don't climb mountains can enjoy this scenery and it's a good deal ♪

②Protect the Demon Gate of IseJingu

In 825 (Tencho 2), Kukai built KongoshojiTemple as a Shingon sect temple on the southern peak of Mt. Asakumagake.

Since then, it has become associated with the Ise faith, and these words have been handed down to this day as passages from the Ise Ondo.

"If you go to Ise, go to the morning bear. If you don't go to the morning bear, it's a one-time visit."

To put it simply, it probably means, "If you're going to IseJingu, you should also climb Asakuma. By climbing Asakuma (≒visiting KongoshojiTemple), you'll have visited all of IseJingu." It seems.

This is because Kongoshoji KongoshojiTemple, which was built near the summit of Mt. Asakumagake, is said to be the ``Inner Temple of IseJingu Grand Shrine'' as it is ``the temple that protects the demon gate (northeast) of IseJingu.''

It's fun to do some research and find out some interesting things.

Next, I would like to introduce two pieces of trivia about Mt. Asakumagatake.

Trivia about Mt. Asakumagatake

[Trivia 1: There seems to be a procedure for visiting Ise! ? ]

I believe that the well-known method of visiting IseJingu today is to go from Geku to the Naiku Shrine, but it seems that people in the past had a slightly different procedure.

As a procedure

1. Perform misogi at FutamiuraBeach
2. Visit Geku
3. Visit Naiku
4. Visit Kongoshoji KongoshojiTemple Asakumagagatake

It seems that it was a custom in the past to visit FutamiuraBeach and Mt. Asakumagatake.

[Trivia 2: There are Asakuma Nanakusa!?]

It all began in 1932 when Takeo Ito, a botanical author from Mie Prefecture, published the Nanakusa Mt.Asama in his book ``Asakuma Nanakusa,'' and it seems that in the past, all the plants grew on Mt. Asakuma. , it seems that some of it remains now.

It might be fun to look for Asakuma Nanakusa when climbing Mt. Asakuma ^ ^

[Asakuma Nanakusa]

① Common daisy ② Japanese daisy ③ Suzukouju ④ Japanese daisy ⑤ Trigatium japonica ⑥ Misumi daisies ⑦ Japanese lily

Please look for it if you like.

About access to Mt. Asakumagatake trailhead

Get off at the Asakuma Interchange on the Ise Futami Toba Line and drive for about 10 minutes to reach the parking lot where the Asakumagadake trailhead is located.

The parking lot has space for about 20 cars and a restroom.

Explaining the climbing route. There are also spots to stop by!

This time, I will explain the route called ``Asakuma-dake'', which is easy to climb even for beginners, while actually climbing it.

As a side note, I used the word "climb" in the title, but do you ever get nervous when you hear the word "climb!"? (lol)

Mt. Asakumagatake is a mountain that you can walk on more like a "walk in the mountains" than a "climb!", so I would like people who don't have much experience climbing mountains to climb it. I'm here ^ ^

Well, let's get back to the topic.

Basic information about Mt. Asakumagatake

• You can climb it in about 2 hours.
• There is parking space for about 40 cars near the trailhead (there are also toilets).
• You can walk from Kintetsu Asama Station to the trailhead (about 10 minutes)

It looks like this.

Let's get started ^^

[1] Use the town stone as a landmark

As shown in the photo, there are stone markers called ``choishi'' (choishi) placed on Asakuma-dake trail to mark the way to the summit.

The town stones are engraved with numbers, and there are town stones numbered 1 to 22 on Asakuma-take Road.

[2] There are remains of a cable car near 10th town

As you walk along the Asakuma Mountain Trail, a signboard with a photo will suddenly catch your eye.

There are ruins of an abandoned cable car in this area that was once used from 1925 (Taisho 14) to 1944 (Showa 19) as a means of transportation for people heading to KongoshojiTemple after visiting the shrine, so you can feel the history. I can.

Please check it out once.

[3] A wild cherry tree suddenly appears

About 15 towns along the Mt. Asakuma Trail, you will see a mountain cherry tree standing proudly in the middle of the road.

It has an indescribable, mysterious atmosphere ^ ^

[4] Mt.Asama sutra mound group where scriptures are said to have been stored

A “kyozuka” is a site where Buddhist scriptures were copied, placed in sutra tubes, and placed in the ground.

The artifacts excavated from the sutra mound at Mt. Asakumagatake are well preserved, and many valuable materials have been found, including a sutra that is said to have been copied by a priest at IseJingu.

[5] KongoshojiTemple

KongoshojiTemple is said to be the temple that protects the demon gate of IseJingu and is also known as the inner shrine of the shrine.

It has a long history, so why not take a look at the buildings that still retain the vestiges of that time?

[6] Observation deck at the mountaintop

The observation deck overlooking Ise-Shima National Park is a reward for those who have worked hard to walk!

From the observation deck, you can see a panoramic view of IseCity and TobaCity, and if you're lucky, you can even see Mt. Fuji.

[7] Looks great! The Post in the sky

There is also a nostalgic-looking mailbox on the observation deck at the top of the mountain...

This is definitely a “photogenic” spot ^ ^

Since it is actually used as a mailbox, it is also used for collecting mail.

[8] Relax in the footbath at the top of the mountain

Let's relax your tired feet from mountain climbing in this footbath♪

This footbath is also located on the observation deck at the top of the mountain.

Enjoying the view of Ise-Shima while soaking in the footbath, this luxurious time is sure to become addictive ^ ^

Introducing recommended spots you should visit after climbing Mt. Asakumagatake

Here I would like to introduce some spots that you will want to stop by after climbing Mt. Asakumagatake.

Okage-yokocho and Oharai-Machi

It refers to a town lined with various shops on the way to Naiku IseJingu, but did you know that Okage-yokocho and Oharai-Machi are different towns even though they look similar?

First of all, `` Oharai-Machi'' refers to the approximately 800m cobblestone street that runs from UjibashiBridge along the Isuzu River, and `` Okage-yokocho'' is ``another town'' located right in the middle of Oharai-Machi. .

Mie Kanko has a detailed introduction to Okage-yokocho and Oharai-Machi 's gourmet food and souvenirs, so we hope you find them helpful.

・44 Okage-yokocho gourmet and souvenir selections

・24 popular spots for gourmet food, souvenirs, and experiences in Oharai-Machi

in conclusion

What do you think? ^ ^

This time we introduced ``Asakumagatake'', which straddles IseCity and TobaCity.

The mountain I actually climbed, Mt. Asakumagatake, was easy for beginners to climb as there were no continuous steep climbs, and the scenery I saw on the way up gave me a special feeling of ``scenery that can only be seen by walking here.'' ”so it is recommended♪

I hope you will come and see it once ^ ^