Photo hiking at Daiyuzan Saijo-ji and abandoned wooden school

Join us for a day trip to Daiyuzan Saijo-ji Temple (大雄山 最乗寺) — a magical mountain temple in the cedar forests of Kanagawa, now glowing with the reds, oranges, and golds of fall. It’s the perfect way to slow down, breathe crisp autumn air, and experience nature and tradition in harmony.

Plan for the day

• 9:00 AM at Yoyogi-Uehara Station (In front of Gold Gym)
• OR 11:00 AM at Daiyuzan Station (for those coming directly)
• Seasonal soba lunch – Warm up with a comforting bowl of soba at a local spot near the temple, possibly paired with seasonal mountain vegetables or mushrooms.
• Explore Daiyuzan Saijo-ji Temple
• This hidden gem becomes even more breathtaking in autumn:
• Towering cedar trees and colorful maple leaves 🍂
• Mysterious Tengu legends 🦶
• Over 30 temple buildings and long stone staircases carpeted in fallen leaves
• Quiet forest trails and sacred spots, like stepping into a Ghibli film scene
• Cool, refreshing mountain air perfect for a long, gentle walk
• Optional side trip – If time allows, we’ll visit the nostalgic Old Fukuzawa Elementary School (旧福澤小学校校舎), surrounded by seasonal scenery.
• Optional: Odawara Castle & Dinner – Afterward, some of us may head to Odawara for a short castle stroll framed by autumn colors, followed by dinner before returning to Tokyo.

Important notes

• Join our LINE group for live updates, route previews, photo sharing, and more!
• If fewer than 10 people sign up by the day before the event, I’ll postpone it to the following week. Thanks for your understanding!
• This is a casual meetup of like-minded people. You’ll receive a friendly welcome, but this is not a guided tour or a customer-host relationship.
• You are free to join or leave anytime, but please let us know if you’ll be late.
• We generally wait 10 minutes for late arrivals.
• A 500 yen fee is collected to help cover the annual Meetup.com subscription cost (over USD $200 per year).
• Check out my other upcoming events — I usually plan months ahead for perfect seasonal moments like cherry blossoms 🌸, autumn leaves 🍂, and more.