Start: Rendaiji bus stop 🚎
Finish: Kasagibashi bus stop 🚎
I went to explore the Kasagiyama area and see the sacred Katsura tree. It is estimated to be around 1,000 years old! 😯 It was the first Katsura tree to be designated a National Natural Monument. The legend says that centuries ago a villager came across a deity dressed in white riding on a white horse. He said that his spirit resides in the mountain inside the great Katsura tree, and the village will have bountiful harvests and good health if the people come to worship the tree. The villagers maintained the area and protected the tree, and it is still being protected today.
It was a really good spiritual atmosphere, being tucked away in a very quiet and secluded place. The nearby hall and jizo-do were also great to experience.
After some hot and sweaty hiking, I was pretty cooked by midday. I thought I might be finished after Sarugahirayama,
But after a lunch break I decided to continue on to Kasagiyama. I’m glad I did because I’ve been thinking about going there for a while. The summit was an amazing way to finish the hike!
笠置山エリアの探索と、国の天然記念物「大カツラ」を見に行ってきました。このカツラは、**カツラの木として日本で最初に天然記念物に指定された「指定第1号」**だそうで、樹齢は約1000年！😯昔、白い馬に乗った神様が現れ、「このカツラの木に私の魂が宿っている。大切に祀れば、五穀豊穣（作物が豊かに実ること）や無病息災（災いがないこと）がもたらされる」と告げたという伝説があるそうです。今でも地元の方々に大切に守られていました。ひっそりとした静かな場所にあり、とても神秘的な雰囲気です。近くの神社も素敵でした。今日は暑くて、お昼頃にはバテ気味に…。猿ガ平山で終わりにしようかと思いましたが、お昼休憩をして笠置山まで頑張ることにしました。ずっと行きたかった場所なので、行けてよかったです！山の頂上は最高の締めくくりになりました。
