Nokogiriyama — Mountain of Stone & Giant Buddha

**Jigoku Nozoki cliff:** The 'Hell's Peek' viewing platform is a narrow stone ledge extending from a cliff face with a 100-meter vertical drop. Reaching it requires 20 minutes of hiking from the ropeway station plus a final scramble over carved stone steps. The platform holds 3-4 people maximum — the exposure is intense and not for those with height sensitivity. The view is among Chiba's most dramatic. **Daibutsu (Great Buddha):** The 31-meter stone Buddha carved into the cliff face dates to 1783. The Buddha is seated in meditation, worn smooth by centuries of weathering. Stand at the base and look up — the scale is overwhelming, especially given the mountain location. The carving was restored in the 1960s after earthquake damage. **Hyakushaku Kannon:** A second massive carving — a 30-meter Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) — is carved into a separate cliff face deeper in the temple grounds. The trail requires 30 additional minutes of hiking through forested paths lined with 1,500+ stone Arhat statues (enlightened disciples), each with unique expressions. **Hiking route:** The trail from Hama-Kanaya Station to the summit is steep but well-maintained (90% stone steps). Early morning hikes (start 7:00am) allow sunrise from the summit platform. The mountain is known for autumn hawk migration (October) when raptors ride thermals over the cliffs.