Mt. Ryōzen（霊山, Ryozen）
| Elevation | 825 m |
|---|---|
| Classification | 100 Famous Low Mountains of Japan |
| Location | Fukushima Pref. (福島県 相馬市) |
| Coordinates | 37.77000, 140.69000 |
Highlights of Mt. Ryōzen
- Selected as one of the 100 Famous Low Mountains of Japan
- Elevation 825 m
- Located in Fukushima Pref.
Weekly weather (reference)
About Mt. Ryōzen
Mount Ryōzen (霊山, Ryōzen) is a mountain on the border of Sōma and the former town of Ryōzen, in Date, Fukushima. It is 825 metres (2,707 ft) in height. Along the hiking trail are the sites of what were Ryōzen Temple and Ryōzen Castle. The mountain is listed as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan in a contest sponsored by the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun and Osaka Mainichi Shimbun. It is also a national Place of Scenic Beauty as determined by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in Japan and is noted for its autumn foliage and a National Historic Site of Japan.
The mountain
Mount Ryōzen is part of the basalt volcanic plateau known as the Abukuma Highlands in northern Fukushima. It was regarded as a sacred mountain and was once known as a center for the Shugendō mountain religion.
History
Ryōzen Temple
In the first year of the Jōgan Era (859), Ennin, a Buddhist monk of the Tendai sect founded the temple Ryōzen-ji (not to be confused with Ryōzen Shrine). The name Ryōzen was adapted from that of Mount Ryojusen (or Gridhakuta) in India. The temple was burnt down in the wars of the Nanboku-chō period, but the Date clan restored the temple during the late Sengoku period. It was restored...