As for now, I haven't climbed very many mountains yet to tell you about them, and if the truth be known, I don't really enjoy it very much. But I do enjoy the fresh air, the quietness, and the view. And to experience it I'm prepared to suffer some physical exertion. And sure, the fatigue of a long hike does feel mentally good, much better than your aching body would like to make you believe.

Shichimen-san, Keishin-in

Stephan Zschiesche and his Japantrek site is partly to blame for me climbing up to the Keishin-in temple on Shichimen-san to have a look at the Fuji at the autumn equinox, when the sun rises from right behind the peak. The sunrise was fantastic, of course, but what was really stunning was the sunset in the evening before. Probably the most beautiful scene I have ever seen. According to the tradition I was supposed to pray to a goddess by a waterfall the day before in order to have a pleasant climb. In my ignorance I instead had a pee below the statue after the descent.

I climbed up the 1500 meters two days before the equinox due to a bad forecast for that day, but how much difference could one day make? Not much for the position of the sun, but when it comes to the amount of people there was a huge difference. The one night I stayed at the Keishin-in we were less than fifteen guests all together, but when I walked down the next day, hundreds of pilgrims in white robes were climbing towards the temple.

The temple belongs to the Nichiren sect of buddhism, and it was very interesting to take part in the evening sermon. I was very surprised at the intensive music performance including various instruments and chanting. Wish I could have video-taped that!