Atago Forest Preservation Association

There are two approaches to Atago Shrine from Atago Shita, just west of the Atago intersection on Meiji-dori. One is Otokozaka. There is a torii gate facing Meiji-dori, and the stairs start immediately. The other is Mesaka. This is a slope. It's an ordinary road near the Atago intersection, but it's easy to see because there is a prominent signboard at Atago Shrine. In the pamphlet of Atago Shrine, Otokozaka is described as "Otokodo". On the 23rd of New Year, Mezaka was also called "horse road" because she had a habit of pulling a dressed horse "Shagoshago horse" to worship.

There are quite a few temples and shrines nationwide that have two approaches under the names Otokozaka and Onnazaka. At temples and shrines where you have to climb, Otokozaka is usually a steeper straight staircase, and Onnazaka is a detour that makes it easier to climb.

The approach here joins near Otojiro Inari on the hillside of Mt. Atago, and after that, if you continue on a flat road in the forest for a while, you will reach a small open space that corresponds to the saddle. This is the entrance to Atago Shrine. To reach the main shrine, you have to climb 89 more stone steps. Unfortunately, there is no "Onnazaka" here. Let's do our best with the depth of devotion. Those who have nothing to do with devotion should do their best with expectations for the view from the precincts. By the way, those who choose Otokozaka have to go through the 198 steps. Let's be prepared. It's a physical fitness game. But even if you are not confident, you can climb slowly. It's not bad to turn around from time to time, take a break and climb while gazing at the scenery. To tell the truth, there is no need to climb 198 steps. This is because there are two stairs with steps of 1 to 2 cm, and in reality there are 195 to 6 steps.

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