Page 25 - DreamScapes Magazine | Fall/Winter 2025

SACRED SLEEPS
Learn Zen from the masters
with a stay at a Buddhist
temple. Gain insight into this
spiritual way of life by staying
at a traditional shukubo, or
temple lodgings at Seizan-so
or at Kaminoya Sanraku-so.
These sacred spaces welcome
curious seekers and offer
overnight lodging.
PHOTOS: TOKYO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
cedar, a monkey park where Japanese macaques
eye you suspiciously, and a traditional tea house
serving local sweets.
Not up for a hike? The Mount Takao Cable
Car rockets you halfway up in six minutes flat,
transforming what should be an hour-long trek
into a breezy ride. For the more daring, opt for
the chairlift and 12 minutes of wind rippling
through your hair as the forest canopy spreads
below like a green carpet.
On clear days, be sure to make for the Mount
Takao Summit Observation Deck to take in
Mount Fuji, emerging from the horizon like a
perfectly painted backdrop.
No matter how you manoeuvre around the
mountain, you’ll have earned your suds at Mt.
Takao Beer Mount. Feast on all-you-can-eat
barbecue and unlimited beer at this sprawling
beer garden that operates from June through
October.
For a traditional Japanese dining experience,
look to Ukai Toriyama, where diners sit in private
rooms on tatami mats while feasting on char-
coal-grilled chicken and seasonal dishes.
Soul Soothing
Cultural explorers curious about spirituality can
venture inside Takaosan Yakuo-in Yukiji, a Bud-
dhist temple established in 744 AD. It’s a training
ground for mountain asceticism, where monks
seek enlightenment through nature’s raw power.
Witness waterfall meditation, where practi-
tioners stand beneath cascading torrents to
purify mind and body or try fire walking across
glowing embers. First-timers can play it safe and
sample Buddhist vegetarian cuisine.
After conquering peaks and communing
with ancient spirits, you might crave a spot of
pampering. Keio Takaosan Onsen Gokurakuyu,
a traditional Japanese spa, delivers exactly that
with hot spring baths and saunas. Add a mas-
sage and slurp fresh soba noodles to emerge
feeling reborn.
Waterfall Wonder
Tucked away in Tokyo’s verdant Okutama region
are outdoor recreation opportunities from water
sports to hiking. If waterfalls are your jam, don’t
miss the scenic walk through charming country-
side to Hossawa Falls. Considered one of Japan’s
top 100 waterfalls, each season reveals a new
transformation, from an emerald-green summer
sanctuary to fiery autumn hues to a frozen
winter sculpture.
Island Hopping
Tokyo’s surrounding islands make beach desti-
nations seem pedestrian by comparison.
Oshima, the closest island to central Tokyo,
revolves around Mount Mihara’s active volcano,
where lunar-like lava fields meet pink camellia
forests blooming from January through April.
Adventure seekers can hike volcanic craters and
dive through underwater arches teeming with
sea turtles and tropical fish. Don’t leave without
devouring island specialties, bekkou sushi, and
ashitaba leaf tempura.
Rugged coves embrace sugar-sand beaches
on Shikinejima Island, three hours from Tokyo
by high-speed ferry. Here, natural hot springs
bubble up from volcanic rock pools that change
temperature with the tides. Cyclists will want to
explore the island’s forested trails up to clifftop
observatories, while family-friendly beaches
lure snorkelers with crystal clear waters and
underwater gardens.
The next time you’re passing through Tokyo,
consider lingering longer. Whether you’re
searching for Zen moments or seeking outdoor
thrills, you won’t have to venture far. DS
FALL/WINTER 2025 DREAMSCAPES 25