Mt. Horaiji is 695m above sea level, while the actual height of the mountain from its base to the top is about 475m. Horaiji temple is situated at 450m. The stairs consist of 1,425 stone steps ascending from the foot of the mountain, and is considered to be one of the largest mountain staircase in Japan.

Horaiji temple was constructed in 703. During the Heian period (794 -1192), Mt. Horaiji begame a sacred location mainly for practitioners of Shingon and Tendai sects of Buddihism who wished to acquire Buddhist esoteric teachings by dwelling deep in the mountain.

In 1969, Mt. Horaiji was designated as one of the national parks in the Tenryu-Okuyama region for its rich diversity of flora and fauna – long protected by the Buddhist principle of non-killing, which is carved on the stone tablet placed at the entrance of the mountain.

p.s. I succdeed in climbing Mt. Horaiji (▲684m) on on October 24, 2020.