So here we are at the top of Yamadera Risshaku-ji Temple completed in 860.
There is no more beautiful spot than this one in autumn
an amazing view overlooking Yamagata Prefecture.
And at the top of 1015 steps lies a public Japan
Post box and a man who has to climb these
steps almost every day to pick it up.
[Music]
Irasshaimase (welcome)
Only In Japan (voice of Peter von Gomm)
I jumped on an E3 series bullet train
the Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo
for the 2 hour 45 minute ride north
the morning mist exciting me
for the adventure at hand today.
Yamadera north-east of Yamagata City in the
mountains is a gem for off-the-beaten-path
travelers, especially beautiful in autumn.
Close to the JR station is an over
1000 step stairway hike to the ancient
Risshaku-ji Temple or Yamadera which
is directly translated at mountain temple.
And at the top besides the temple
serving the residents and tourists
alike is a red Japan Post box
With pick-up time 11am six days a week.
I always wondered who climbs up here to
pick it up, that's over 12,000 steps each week.
A real workout.
(music)
And I found the man who has a most scenic
and one of the most challenging postal
routes perhaps in all of Japan.