[Kanto Touring Spot] [Chiba Prefecture] Bike trip to Nokogiriyama! Solo Harley trip around the Boso Peninsula, including Nihonji Temple and a peek into hell
Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Nokogiriyama, Chiba Prefecture. Nokogiriyama is a mountain with an altitude of 329.5 meters located at the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula, and is home to tourist attractions such as Nihonji Temple and Hell Peek. The name Nogiriyama comes from the fact that the rocks at the site of the quarry look like saw teeth. This time, we drove along the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line and the Tateyama Expressway, which crosses Tokyo Bay, aiming for Nokogiriyama. I’d like to introduce you to the touring process.
Nokogiriyama is a mountain located on the border between Kyonan Town, Awa District, Chiba Prefecture, and Futtsu City, and is also the name of a Japanese temple. Nihonji Temple is an ancient temple said to have been built during the Nara period, and is home to Japan’s largest stone Buddha statue, the Nihonji Daibutsu and the 100-shaku Kannon statue. Additionally, from the observation deck called Jigoku Nozoki, you can see Tokyo Bay, Boso Hills, Mt. Fuji, and more. Nokogiriyama has been selected as one of Japan’s 80 Famous Mountains and Japan’s 100 Lowest Mountains, and is also popular for hiking and mountain climbing.
Route to Mt. Nokogiri
This time, I crossed Sumida River Ohashi Bridge from central Tokyo via Suitengu Street. After that, I took the Shuto Expressway No. 9 Fukagawa Line, transferred to the Shuto Expressway Bayshore Line, and headed for the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line. The Tokyo Bay Aqua Line is a 15-kilometer road consisting of undersea tunnels and bridges that crosses Tokyo Bay. At the undersea tunnel, we stopped at the Umihotaru parking area, which is located at a depth of about 60 meters. Umihotaru Parking Area is an artificial island floating in the sea, with restaurants and shops. From here, you can enjoy the spectacular view of Tokyo Bay.
After leaving the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line, I entered the Tateyama Expressway. Tateyama Expressway is an expressway that runs from north to south within Chiba Prefecture, allowing you to fully enjoy the nature and culture of the Boso Peninsula. The scenery we saw along the way included fields of rape blossoms and rows of cherry blossom trees. In addition, peanuts and strawberries are famous as specialty products.
After about an hour on the Tateyama Expressway, we arrived at our destination, Kyonan-cho Motona. From here, we headed to Nogiriyama via National Route 127. National Route 127 is a road that goes around the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula, allowing you to drive along the coastline and mountainous areas. There are beaches and hot spring facilities along the road. The entrance to Nokogiriyama is located in the parking lot of Nihonji Temple. From here, you can climb to the top of the mountain by ropeway or on foot.
The highlights of Nokogiriyama are the Nihonji Temple and Hell Peek. Nihonji Temple is a temple located halfway up Mt. Nokogiri, and is home to many national treasures and important cultural properties. Particularly famous are the Nihonji Temple Daibutsu and the Hyakushaku Kannon. The Nihonji Temple Daibutsu is a large stone Buddha statue with a height of 31.05 meters and a weight of 1,500 tons, making it one of the largest in Japan. Hyakushaku Kannon is a 30 meter tall stone statue of Kannon, which is a symbol of Nogiriyama along with the Nihonji Daibutsu. These stone Buddhas were carved in the ruins of a quarry during the Edo period, and their skill and beauty are impressive.
Jigoku Nozomi is an observation deck at the top of Mt. Nokogiri where you can peer down from a 100 meter high cliff. The thrill and spectacular scenery will take your breath away. From the observation deck, you can see Tokyo Bay, Boso Hills, Mt. Fuji, and more. If the weather is nice, you can even see Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower. The observation deck also has a bell and a wishing board.
Nogiriyama motorcycle parking lot
If you are going to Mt. Nokogiri by motorcycle, you can use the parking lot at the Nokogiriyama Ropeway Sanroku Station parking lot. However, there is no dedicated space for motorcycles, so you must park them in the same area as regular cars.
Summary
This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Nokogiriyama, Chiba Prefecture. Nokogiriyama had many attractions such as Nihonji Temple and Hell Peek. It was also fun to drive along the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line and the Tateyama Expressway. The Boso Peninsula is a region rich in nature and culture, making it ideal for exploring by bike. Next time, I would like to visit other spots as well.
[Kanto Touring Spot] [Chiba Prefecture] Bike trip to Nokogiriyama! Solo Harley trip around the Boso Peninsula, including Nihonji Temple and a peek into hell
