Otsuki

It is said that Japan's national symbol, Mount Fuji, appears at its most symmetrical when viewed from Otsuki, so the area was chosen as the site to produce the image of the mountain that used to appear on ¥500 notes. The overlook is at the summit of this mountain.

Saruhashi literally means 'monkey bridge'. Saru means monkey and hashi means bridge. It is known for its unique architecture which, as the story goes, is said to have been built by monkeys. It is a beautiful bridge that runs over a stream with a nearby playground and two small shrines, making the site very pleasant. The bridge is built across a canyon, next to three other bridges, one of which is dedicated to carrying the large waterpipes for the nearby hydroelectric plant. The succession of bridges across the river is a sight to behold.

As Otsuki is within two hours from Tokyo, it makes an ideal place to enjoy a one or two day hike. The mountains behind the town are dotted with pretty villages and offer wonderful views over Mount Fuji. There are even a few hot springs to soak out the Tokyo vibe. The closest hike to Otsuki Station is Iwadono-san; the station has a free map showing hikes in the vicinity of the tracks. The Iwadono-san Museum has copies of the Otsuki-shi trail map, which shows where the trails are, although it does not show their condition.

The monastery was founded in 1978 with the intention of establishing a center that precisely follows the teachings of Zen Master Dogen (the Japanese monk who introduced the Soto Zen tradition to Japan from China in the 13th century), and located deep in the mountains among tall pines, it provides a perfect environment to practice meditation and experience a simple Zen life. Zuigakuin is popular with overseas students, and many have trained here over the years. From the station, follow the road over the river and under the expressway. After passing through the small hill-side village of Fujisawa, the path enters a forest. It is about a one hour hike from the station to Zuigakuin. Reservation at least one week in advance is required for staying at the temple.

This 600-m mountain is easily recognizable by the sheer rock face on the south side of the peak. Once the location of a local warlord's castle, it now has a small museum half-way up and excellent views from the top. The museum has an exhibition of photos of Fuji-san and some local history (in Japanese only). The climb up the improved trail on the west side of the mountain takes about an hour; this trail is mostly paved and has (sometimes steep) stairs in all the steep areas. The trail map shows an east-side route, which is unimproved except for handrails. Wear excellent trail shoes and be in good condition for this hike.