Nantai San
Soaring above beautiful Lake Chuzenji and the ancient temple-studded town of Nikko is the sacred mountain of Nantai San. Also known as Kurokiyama and Futaarasan, the 2484-meter peak has been a place of Shinto pilgrimage since at least the 4th century AD. Local legends tell of a powerful mountain spirit that assisted hermits and monks in spiritual realization. By the 8th century, Nantai San was a favored site for Buddhist practitioners on solitary retreats. Each year, from August 1-7, thousands of pilgrims climb the mountain from the Chugushi shrine.
Martin Gray is a cultural anthropologist, writer and photographer specializing in the study of pilgrimage traditions and sacred sites around the world. During a 40 year period he has visited more than 2000 pilgrimage places in 165 countries. The World Pilgrimage Guide at sacredsites.com is the most comprehensive source of information on this subject.