Rock Garden

In short

The Rock Garden is a valley that stretches along a stream between Ayahiro Falls and Nanayo Falls on Mt. Mitake. Clear streams cascade down among moss-covered rocks, and the most popular hiking trail on Mt. Mitake runs through here. It once served as a place of ascetic training for mountain worship, and in the summer, visitors can enjoy a refreshing coolness like natural air conditioning.

• ​Ayahiro Falls​​: A 10-meter-high waterfall marked by a torii gate with a sacred shimenawa rope, also used as a site for waterfall meditation.
• ​Nanayo Falls​​: A cascade of eight tiers of large and small falls spanning a 50-meter drop; here, visitors can view the fourth tier from the bottom.
• ​Tengu Rock​​: A large rock said to resemble the long nose of a tengu, with a bronze statue of a tengu atop it.

History and Highlights

The Rock Garden is a valley that stretches along a stream between Ayahiro Falls and Nanayo Falls on Mt. Mitake. Clear streams cascade among moss-covered rocks, offering a refreshing coolness like natural air conditioning in the summer. In the past, it was also a place of ascetic practice for mountain worship.

Ayahiro Falls is a 10-meter-high waterfall located upstream of the Rock Garden. A wooden torii gate with a sacred shimenawa rope stands in front of the waterfall, signifying that it is a sacred place. The falls are used for purification rituals (misogi) of Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine. It is also a site for waterfall meditation (takigyo), where monks and pilgrims stand under the falling water. Some shukubo (pilgrim lodgings) on Mt. Mitake arrange morning waterfall meditation experiences for their guests. Takigyo involves specific prayers and rituals and cannot be undertaken without guidance.

Nanayo Falls is a collection of eight waterfalls of various sizes, with an overall drop of 50 meters. What can be viewed here is the fourth tier from the bottom. In summer, the area around the waterfall is a cool and pleasant spot.

Tengu Rock is a large rock said to resemble the long nose of a tengu. Tengu are believed to be guardian spirits of mountains and forests.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Moss-covered rocks and clear streams​​: Along the stream, you can observe up close the small brook flowing between rocks carpeted in moss.
• ​The tengu atop Tengu Rock​​: A bronze statue of a tengu in the form of a bird sits atop the rock and can be seen from the trail below. The rock's surface is covered with tree roots that look like steps, and chains are fitted for climbing up.
• ​The torii gate at Ayahiro Falls​​: You can view the torii gate draped with a sacred shimenawa rope together with the water cascading into the rock-enclosed basin.

Practical Tips

Many of Mt. Mitake's hiking trails begin at the bottom of the stairs leading to Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine. The Rock Garden route is the most popular among them. The trail passes Ayahiro Falls and Nanayo Falls. Continuing to Ayahiro Falls and walking the course to its end will bring you back to Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine in about 2 hours. Tengu Rock is located along the path toward Ayahiro Falls. A metal staircase near Tengu Rock leads to Nanayo Falls. After rain, the surface of Tengu Rock becomes slippery. Because the path has many ups and downs, please set out with appropriate footwear and clothing. On a map, the Rock Garden lies about 560 meters in a straight line south-southwest from Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine. From the Rock Garden, there is also a trail that climbs to Mt. Otake in about 60 minutes. The shukubo settlement and the cable car are covered under the Mt. Mitake entry, and the shrine's history is introduced under the Musashi Mitake-jinja Shrine entry.