Home of the Storm Winds
The high-pitched morning song of the brown-eared bulbul could be heard as the sound of the day awakens. We were staying high on the slopes of Mt. Heie (the neighboring twin guardian of Kyoto) The Autumn morning was still and cool. Outside in the garden, dew could be seen on the intricately made cobwebs that stretched between the azalea & maples. They glistened like fine gems against the oranges & reds of the oriental-flamed leaves from the golden rays of the first light.
Mt. Atago, The Fire Mountain was our destination today. It is a sacred place, the highest summit that sits above Kyoto City standing at 924 metres tall.
An hour's car drive through the winding roads, the landscape so different from our home in Northern Europe. The ancient oak forests and woodlands are now replaced by large areas of bamboo groves and the striking colours of the maples and sakura. Northwest, on the edges of Kyoto City we reach an entrance of a long tunnel just wide enough for our car. It is near the popular district of Arashiyama.
‘Spirited Away’
We travel through the round opening into darkness (underneath the feet of the Storm Mountains) and are spirited away from suburbia into the wilds of Japan. We travel through and for a further 10 minutes we reach the end of a narrow lane at the sleepy village of Kiyotaki.
We park up and walk over the river, the ornamental stone guard rail on our left and with its elegant views sweeping down the valley. The torii gates at the start of the climbing route of Kiyotaki indicate that the whole mountain is sacred. It is a special place to pray and be respectful.
We walked up the steep path through the lush green forest. There is a real energy here, charming ancient Japan with its shrines, lanterns, and ruins placed along the trail. There are glimpses of settlements, ruins of a school & abandoned tea rooms where nature has now reclaimed its home.
Eventually, we climb to the summit of the Mountain. At the very top sits the Atago Shrine (and a vending machine) The shrine offers protection against fire-related disasters.
Mt Atago’s Shrine is dedicated to the Atago Tarobo, the King and greatest of all the Tengu - The tengu is a type of mischievous supernatural being from Japanese Folklore.
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