Getting Good Vibes at Mystical Mount Nokogiri and Nihonji Temple

Located near Hota Station in the town of Kyonan, the imposing granite edifice overlooks the Boso Peninsula, which hangs from the mainland into the waters of the Pacific and comprises much of Chiba Prefecture. For the best views, head to “Hell Point Peak,” a vertigo-inducing viewpoint jutting out from the grey-green cliff face. On drizzly afternoons, fog spills mysteriously over the surrounding range. On a clear day, you may be able to catch sight of Mount Fuji crowning the horizon to the southwest. (Photo by Tsubasa Muroi.)

On the south side of the mountain, you can visit Nihonji Temple, a Buddhist temple dating back to the eighth century. The temple is accessible by car, ropeway or on foot, and is famed for a more recent addition: a daibutsu (Great Buddha) statue sitting cross-legged in a state of nirvana against the rock face. Carved back in 1783, the statue is a strikingly large figure at 31 meters, dwarfing the famous Kamakura daibutsu just outside Tokyo which stands at a comparatively diminutive 11 meters. (Photo by Tsubasa Muroi. )