Nokogiriyama — Mountain of Stone & Giant Buddha
Nokogiriyama (鋸山, 'Saw Mountain,' 329m) earned its name from the jagged cliff face created by 300 years of stone quarrying. The mountain supplied stone for Edo (Tokyo) construction during the Tokogawa period, leaving dramatic vertical cuts and viewing platforms that jut over sheer drops. The summit area contains Nihon-ji Temple, home to a 31-meter-tall carved Buddha — the largest pre-modern stone Buddha in Japan.
The mountain offers three ways up: ropeway (4 minutes), hiking trail (45-60 minutes), or the 'Jigoku Nozoki' (Hell's Peek) cliff trail that requires scrambling over exposed rock with chain assists. The views from the cliff platforms extend across Tokyo Bay to Mt. Fuji on clear days — a reward that feels disproportionate to the mountain's modest elevation.
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