Guidebooks describe Nokogiriyama and its temple, Nihonji, as organized into roughly five visitor zones — the summit, the Rakan stone-figure path, the mid-slope buildings, the Great Buddha plaza, and the historic Omotesando entrance approach — which visitors can combine to suit the time available.
The mountain and its temple
According to the guidebook, Nokogiriyama — Saw Mountain — straddles the border of the town of Kyonan, in Awa District, and Futtsu City in Chiba Prefecture, its jagged ridge resembling saw teeth above Tokyo Bay.
According to the guidebook, nearly the entire mountain constitutes the grounds of Nihonji temple.
According to the guidebook, the temple grounds are traversed by around 2,639 stone steps that connect the various visitor areas.
The Great Buddha and the stone figures
According to the guidebook, the great stone Buddha at Nihonji is recognized as Japan's largest seated stone Buddha image, standing roughly twice the height of the Great Buddha at Kamakura.
According to the guidebook, the figure represents the Medicine Buddha, or Yakushi Nyorai, and holds a medicine jar in its left hand.
According to the guidebook, the original great stone Buddha was carved in 1783 by a craftsman named Ono Jingorō, later deteriorated into ruin, and was restored to the mountain in 1969.
According to the guidebook, more than 1,000 stone Buddhist figures known as the Sengohyaku Rakan stand along the stone-stepped path that descends from the summit area toward the Great Buddha plaza, carved by a master craftsman and his apprentices over roughly twenty years.
According to the guidebook, some of these figures are missing their heads, destroyed during the Meiji era government campaign against Buddhism.
According to the guidebook, a large Buddhist figure known as the Hyakushaku Kannon is carved in relief directly into a rock face, forming one of the prominent sights along the stone-stepped route.
Quarry walls and bay views
According to the guidebook, Nokogiriyama served for centuries as a quarry for high-quality Boso stone, leaving dramatic sheer-cut rock walls across the mountain.
According to the guidebook, one section of these historic quarry walls has recently acquired the popular nickname "Laputa's Wall" and has become a photogenic draw.
Guidebooks describe the mountain, on clear days, as offering wide views over Tokyo Bay, Mount Fuji, and the Izu Peninsula — a panorama that extends across the Kanto region.
On clear days in the colder, drier months, Mount Fuji is said to be visible from the summit area across Tokyo Bay, making the mountain a rewarding destination for landscape photography.
The Omotesando approach
According to the guidebook, the Omotesando entrance area also holds the Ninnomon gate, rebuilt in 1690, the Kannondo hall, built in 1700, and a heart-shaped pond called Shinjiike, adding historic architectural interest for visitors approaching from the Hota side.
A sago palm on the Omotesando approach is said to have been planted by the twelfth-century warrior Minamoto no Yoritomo before he prayed for victory in battle, and the tree is said to be many centuries old.
An alternative approach on foot from JR Hota Station follows the historic Omotesando trail and reaches the temple's Ninnomon guardian gate in about 45 minutes, so check official information before visiting.
This more traditional entry is distinct from the quick ropeway ascent from Hamakanaya Station.
Practical notes
Nihonji charges an adult entry fee of 700 yen, payable at the mountain's management offices on entry, so check official information before visiting.
Guidebooks describe the Tokyo Bay Ferry as linking Kurihama Port in Kanagawa Prefecture with Kanaya Port in Chiba Prefecture, offering a scenic bay-crossing approach for visitors coming from the Kanagawa side.
Guidebooks describe a full exploration of Nihonji and Nokogiriyama as calling for roughly half a day, and a shorter circuit of the summit area and the Rakan path before a ropeway descent as a briefer alternative.
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