Nokogiriyama Summit Station

Nokogiriyama, meaning "Saw Mountain," rises 329 meters above sea level on the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The mountain earned its distinctive name from the jagged ridgeline that resembles the teeth of a saw, a profile created by centuries of stone quarrying that supplied high-quality Bōsō stone for construction projects throughout the Edo period and beyond.

The summit area is dominated by Nihon-ji Temple, originally founded in 729 CE during the Nara period by the monk Gyōki. This ancient Buddhist temple complex sprawls across the mountainside and houses several remarkable features that draw visitors from across Japan and beyond. The most famous is the Daibutsu, a massive seated Buddha carved directly into the cliff face measuring 31 meters in height, making it the largest pre-modern stone Buddha statue in Japan. Originally completed in 1783, the statue underwent significant restoration in 1969 after centuries of weathering had taken their toll.

Visitors ascending to the summit station encounter the dramatic Jigoku Nozoki (Hell Peek) observation point, a flat stone platform jutting out from a sheer 100-meter cliff face that offers panoramic views across Tokyo Bay. On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible in the distance. The temple grounds also contain the Hyaku-shaku Kannon, a 100-foot tall relief carving of the Goddess of Mercy carved into the mountainside between 1960 and 1966 as a memorial to those lost in war. Another notable feature is the 1,500 rakan stone statues representing Buddha's disciples, scattered throughout the forested paths.

The summit station can be reached via the Nokogiri-yama Ropeway, which departs from the base near Hamakanaya Station on the JR Uchibo Line. The ropeway journey takes approximately 4 minutes and climbs 330 meters vertically. Alternatively, visitors can hike up via several trails, with the main climbing route taking roughly 40 to 60 minutes. From Tokyo, the journey involves taking the JR Sobu Line to Chiba, then transferring to the JR Uchibo Line to Hamakanaya Station, with total travel time around 2 hours. Combined admission for both the ropeway and temple grounds costs approximately ¥1,600 for adults, though prices are subject to change.