Oyama

Oyama is a 1252-meter mountain at the southwestern edge of the Tanzawa range in Kanagawa Prefecture, around 60 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. It has been venerated as a sacred mountain for centuries; the Oyama Afuri Shrine partway up the slope and the Oyama-dera temple were goals of popular Edo-period pilgrimages known as Oyama-mairi, when farmers and townspeople climbed to pray for rain and harvests. A cable car now carries visitors part of the way up; from the upper station, stone stairs continue to the summit. On clear days the view reaches across Sagami Bay to Mount Fuji. The maple-lined approaches to the shrine are a favorite autumn destination.