During my last trip to Japan, I had an unexpected holiday in February. While searching for a day-trip destination from Tokyo, I stumbled upon a picture of an enormous staircase. It belonged to a temple in Minobu, and I knew I had to visit.
Minobu is located on the west side of Mt.Fuji. You can reach it by train from Tokyo via Kofu.
As I traveled, I noticed many tourists heading towards Mt. Fuji, but I didn’t see any other foreign travelers on the train from Kofu to Minobu. The JR Minobu line is a local line with one to three trains per hour, so you can usually catch the next train within 20-30 minutes.
The train ride from Kofu to Minobu takes about an hour and 30 minutes. From Minobu station, a bus runs to the temple approximately once an hour. Fortunately, the schedule is well-coordinated, and I only had to wait for about 20 minutes. There are a few souvenir shops near the station where you can pass the time easily.
After a 10-15 minutes bus ride, I arrived at the terminal stop. From there, it was just a short walk to the temple’s grand entrance gate, where my visit began. Surprisingly, there was no entrance fee.
The temple grounds start with an impressive, beautifully crafted gate. Beyond the gate, you’ll quickly encounter the famous staircases --- 203 steps climbing 103m high. If you are fit and unafraid of hights, I highly recommend taking the challenge. However, if you prefer an easier route, there are a few easier sloped paths on either side.
At the top, several temple buildings await. One of them houses a striking drawing of a massive dragon, which is definitely worth seeing.
For those who want to go even higher, a ropeway operates every 30 minutes, taking visitors to the mountain’s summit.
From the top, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Mt. Fuji. The area is covered in serene spruce forest, creating a peaceful atmosphere. When I visited, the ground was still blanketed in snow, making the scenery even more magical. A short walk from the ropeway station leads to a view point where you can see the Japanese Alps.
There are a few other attractions to explore, including another template and an ancient tree considered sacred.
During my visit, I tried Kushikiri Dango, a local speciality.
On my way back, I took the ropeway down and opted for the gentler sloped path instead of the scary stairs.
In total, my visit lated just over three hours. After returning to the train station, I bought a small manju (just 100 yen) while waiting for my train.
I only saw a very few tourists during my time in Minobu, but it was a fantastic experience.I highly recommend visiting this hidden gem!