Up until now I have always followed a simple rule whenever visiting somewhere new, arrive early and finish early. However, sometimes things don’t always go according to plan and I found myself having to make an exception to this rule when visiting Takamizu-Sanjofukuin Temple, (高水山常福院). Situated towards the peak of Mount Takamizu, in Tokyo’s rural Ome district, the temple is about an hours hike from the nearest station and is particular picturesque in winter as most of the surrounding mountains are covered in a white blanket of snow.
Although the temple was originally established during the Kamakura Period (from 1192 to 1333) it has been rebuilt on several occasions following a series of fires. The current temple can trace its roots back to 1822. One of the first things that many visitors will notice is how some of its buildings are colored red. The reason for this is because it is dedicated to “Fudo,” the Buddhist King of light and wisdom, whose statue can be found close by to the main temple hall.
By the time I started my ascent, it was already approaching 1 pm on a cold, but crisp winter afternoon and most other people were either making final decent or were already at the foot of mount Takamizu. With a little over 3 hours daylight remaining, I approached the temple via the Takamizu Sanzan hiking trail, which seemed to be totally devoid of any life expect for the occasional sound of a chirping bird. In little under an hour, I reached the main temple gate located at the top of steep stairway, which has a very distinctive metal flag on its right side. As I reached the main courtyard, I sat back and enjoyed the peace and tranquility
Getting there
The temple is about an hour’s hike from Ikusabata Station which is located on the JR Ome Line and is approximately a 90 commute from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station. Singles fares cost around 1000 Yen, and usually require a transfer at JR Tachikawa to the Ome Line.
