The idle monkey trainer visited Nokogiriyama (Saw Mountain) in Chiba prefecture in the last week of May (and is timely posting this now) in search of wild monkeys. Sadly, there were none to be found.
What was to be found is a large temple and shrine complex sprawling across the jagged ridge of the mountain. From the top of the rope way (by the way, if you want to surprise the employees of the rope way, ask how you can walk up) you are greeted with a small shrine at the top.
Following the ridge line down a bit, you come to the actual complex that is home to Japan's largest Buddha statue, carved out of the mountainside. The soft stone has eroded and been repaired a number of times.
On the other side of the ridge, carved deep into a recess is another impressive wall.
What I found more impressive, however, was the myriad small statues tucked into recesses and caves, or sitting on ledges overlooking the walking paths, that are scattered throughout the complex. Most of these are now headless, decapitated during the Meiji era because the then government thought they were disrespectful and should not be worshipped.
Looking down on passers-by
Sometimes just the head awaits visitors.
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