I decided to descend down trail one as it contains most of the tourist sites on the mountain. The first site is the monkey park, an open viewing area, where approximately 50 macaque monkeys in a mountain top area are on display for those willing to pay to see them.


Back to the trail and the crowds have increased around mid morning with shoulder to shoulder nature lovers heading to the summit of Mt. Takao.

The Yakuoin Temple, believed to have been built around 750, is dedicated to the Medicine Bhudda, Yakushi Nyorai. The temple has been subject to many tempests during its time on the mountain including fires and typhoon but over 2,500 documents containing information about the beliefs prevalent during the Warring States and Edo periods are still preserved within the temple walls.


Continuing through the rest of the temple complex there are some amazing sights and the usual temple related stalls and more and more people.


After dodging the crowds on the descent of the mountain I arrived back at the cable car station and the queue to use the cable car stretched back through the forecourt but at least they were being entertained by a magician. A video is available on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZYXL9D7lHk).



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