~Shinshiro~ Walking Mount Horaiji in Autumn
Yesterday, I went to Mount Horaiji in Shinshiro with some friends.
We met in Toyohashi at 7:30 AM and drove to the site.
As we got closer to our destination, we were gradually surrounded by mountains.
Despite it being late November, there were still few autumn leaves, and many trees looked like their green color had faded.
I wonder if they will just wither away and enter winter like this.
We arrived at the foot of Mount Horaiji and started walking along.
Mount Horaiji is a 695m high mountain that has long been an object of worship itself, and it seems it flourished as a sacred place for mountain ascetics and a training ground for Shingon and Tendai esoteric Buddhism.
The mountain path continued with many stairs, and the trail was wide and easy to walk on.
Along the way, I felt that this place has been deeply connected to people for a long time, as we saw magnificent cedar trees about 400 years old, neatly stacked high stone walls, and many ruins of monks' dwellings and bronze statues.
It feels good to walk
From here, we head to the summit of Mount Horaiji.
Walking and stopping, we reached the summit of Mount Horaiji around noon.
Looking around, it was mountains! Mountains! Mountains! In the distance, I could even see the Southern Alps.
I could also see Mikawa Bay.
I felt how surrounded by mountains we really were.
We ate the rice balls we brought from home near the summit.
It was a little chilly when we stopped, but occasionally the sun would peek out from the clouds, warming our bodies.
After walking in the mountains, the food tasted even better than usual, enjoyed with good views and friends.
On a skewer made of bamboo.
After eating, we walked along the ridgeline and through the forest to return to Horaiji Temple.
We went down the many stairs again and finished our descent before evening.
I walked slowly through the forest with my friends, looked at the scenery, and talked.
I felt tired from walking all day, but I felt even more fulfilled and was still soaking in the afterglow for a while after the descent.
The setting sun was beautiful.
After living in other prefectures for university and work, I moved my base back to my hometown for the first time in seven years, and lately, I have been spending my days exploring and rediscovering the local area.
There are still so many wonderful places and places I want to visit.