Mt. Nokogiri
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About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Mt. Nokogiri in Chiba Prefecture Japan
About
Mt. Nokogiri, which means "Saw Mountain" in Japanese, is a mountain in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo that was used as a major stone quarry during and before the Edo Period. It is called "Saw Mountain" because of the shape of the cuts left after it's stone quarry days. Mt. Nokogiri has a height of 329.4 meters or 1,081 feet. The area is a "semi-popular" tourist destination for Tokyo'ites as they can make a "day trip" to Mt. Nokogiri in one day and especially during the Fall when the leaves turn. The ultimate goal for most visitors is the summit of Mt. Nokogiri which has a "lookout point" which looks out over Tokyo Bay. On a sunny day looking West you can see accross to Tokyo and even Mt. Fuji if it's a really clear day. Looking North and South you get a great view up and down the Chiba Penninsula. Besides the "lookout point" there are two other main sights to see, 1.) a huge Buddha named "Yakushi Nyorai" which is the largest pre-modern stone carved Buddha (in Japanese; Daibutsu) in Japan at 31 meters (102 feet) high and 2.) the mountain was used as a stone quarry during the Edo period making it an interesting destination for history purposes. Furthermore, besides the Mt. Nokogiri "lookout point", the stone Buddha and the quarry, there is also the "Hundred Shaku Kannon" (a Kannon carved into one of the quarry walls), a big cycad tree that is over 800 years old and 1,500 hand carved arhat sculptures... quite a lot to see in a small little area and makes for an interesting day of discovery, adventure or for a fun date.
From Hama-Kanaya station (which is a station on the Uchibo Line) you can ride the Nokogiriyama Ropeway (Fare: One Way - 500 yen, Round trip - 930 yen) which is a less than 10 min. walk from Hama-Kanaya station. Ropeway trams leave about every 10 min. and the ride to the top is about 5 min. From the Nokogiriyama Ropeway station near the top you can walk to the "lookout point" and the various other attractions on the mountain. From the Nokogiri mountain area there are also various hiking trails that lead off into the interior of the Chiba pennisula.
Probably the best way to see Mt. Nokogiri and the surrounding attractions is to buy a one-way ticket to the top on the Nokogiriyama Ropeway and then walk down visiting all the interesting attractions. The walk down the mountain and sightseeing will take about 4 hours. If you go during the summer be sure to take some water as it gets quite hot and humid on the walk. You may also want to grab a bite to eat at the restaurant at the top to get some energy before starting the walk. If you really want to make a long full day of it (or even an over-night excursion on the Chiba Penninsula) you make want to consider visiting Kururi Castle or Teteyama Castle in the same day.
If you finished with the main attractions in the area (Mt. Nokogiri Viewpoint and the Buddha) and have a little extra time, you might consider walking around the Hama-Kanaya station area as well. Hama-Kanaya is an acient town as the stone quarry has been around for hundreds, close to a thousand years. You can see many stone walls and stone building in the town made out of the "Volcanic Ash Rock" stone taken from the quarry. The stone taken from the Nokogiri Quarry was used extensively all over the Kanto region in ports, buildings and even castle walls. If you get hungry there is a great little pizza joint in town called Pizza Gonzo and a fabulous cafe called Cafe Edomons... unfortunately Cafe Edomons was destroyed by the 2019 #15 & #19 typhoons so check the site or stop by to see if it's up and running.
Access
Closest Train Station: Hama-Kanaya
Futtsu, Kanaya, Chiba 299-1861 Japan
By Train from Tokyo Station:
- You can ride normal JR Express trains and Local trains to get to Hama-Kanaya. The ride will take anywhere from 2.5 hour to 3 hours. Usually you will have to change trains at Chiba Station or Soga (and maybe even Kimitsu) BUT if you plan and schedule correctly, there are a few direct trains a day. Use our "Find a train route and times" below to check for a good train route. The cost is around 1,940 yen.
- Limited Express Sazanami - operates between Shinjuku and Tokyo to Kimitsu and runs along the west coast of the Chiba Boso peninsula in Chiba prefecture. Unfortunately this is a commuter train and there are few departure times. Please ask your hotel front desk person to help you find the perfect schedule. In Tokyo Station the Sazanami leaves from the Keiyo line platform (quite a walk in Tokyo Station). From Kimitsu (the Sazanami's final stop) you will have to transfer to a local train and ride about 30 more minutes to Hama-Kanaya.
- from Kurihama (in Kanagawa) - Ride the Tokyo Wan Ferry to Port Kanaya (40 min.) which is near Hama-Kanaya station. Walk to the Nokogiriyama Ropeway (about 15-20 min.)
By Ferry
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Mt. Nokogiri.
Hours & Fees
Hours: The mountain and temple is open 24/7. Nokogiriyama RopewayNov. 16th - Feb. 15th 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Feb. 16 - Nov. 15 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (During Summer: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm)
Cost: Nokogiriyama Ropeway - Adult: One Way - 500 yen, Round trip - 930 yen
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
Resources
Website: Mt. Nokogiri Homepage
