1 00:00:00,450 --> 00:00:05,840 So here we are at the top of Yamadera Risshaku-ji Temple completed in 860. 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,590 There is no more beautiful spot than this one in autumn 3 00:00:09,590 --> 00:00:13,020 an amazing view overlooking Yamagata Prefecture. 4 00:00:13,020 --> 00:00:16,770 And at the top of 1015 steps lies a public Japan 5 00:00:16,770 --> 00:00:19,730 Post box and a man who has to climb these 6 00:00:19,730 --> 00:00:22,320 steps almost every day to pick it up. 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:23,700 [Music] 8 00:00:26,940 --> 00:00:28,700 Irasshaimase (welcome) 9 00:00:35,959 --> 00:00:38,459 Only In Japan (voice of Peter von Gomm) 10 00:00:40,053 --> 00:00:42,863 I jumped on an E3 series bullet train 11 00:00:42,863 --> 00:00:45,203 the Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo 12 00:00:45,203 --> 00:00:47,759 for the 2 hour 45 minute ride north 13 00:00:47,759 --> 00:00:49,809 the morning mist exciting me 14 00:00:49,809 --> 00:00:52,249 for the adventure at hand today. 15 00:00:52,249 --> 00:00:55,269 Yamadera north-east of Yamagata City in the 16 00:00:55,269 --> 00:00:57,679 mountains is a gem for off-the-beaten-path 17 00:00:57,679 --> 00:01:00,922 travelers, especially beautiful in autumn. 18 00:01:00,922 --> 00:01:02,762 Close to the JR station is an over 19 00:01:02,762 --> 00:01:05,132 1000 step stairway hike to the ancient 20 00:01:05,132 --> 00:01:07,622 Risshaku-ji Temple or Yamadera which 21 00:01:07,622 --> 00:01:10,322 is directly translated at mountain temple. 22 00:01:10,322 --> 00:01:12,180 And at the top besides the temple 23 00:01:12,180 --> 00:01:13,811 serving the residents and tourists 24 00:01:13,811 --> 00:01:16,211 alike is a red Japan Post box 25 00:01:17,705 --> 00:01:20,935 With pick-up time 11am six days a week. 26 00:01:21,885 --> 00:01:23,907 I always wondered who climbs up here to 27 00:01:23,907 --> 00:01:27,824 pick it up, that's over 12,000 steps each week. 28 00:01:27,824 --> 00:01:28,893 A real workout. 29 00:01:30,169 --> 00:01:31,079 (music) 30 00:01:31,749 --> 00:01:34,039 And I found the man who has a most scenic 31 00:01:34,039 --> 00:01:35,889 and one of the most challenging postal 32 00:01:35,889 --> 00:01:38,417 routes perhaps in all of Japan. 33 00:01:38,632 --> 00:01:40,452 This is Sasahara San who has been on 34 00:01:40,452 --> 00:01:42,512 this route for several years. 35 00:01:43,149 --> 00:01:45,682 He parks at the Yamadera Post Office 36 00:01:45,682 --> 00:01:48,402 and then hikes up the same as tourists. 37 00:01:52,086 --> 00:01:54,596 Autumn here is warm in the afternoon sun, 38 00:01:54,596 --> 00:01:57,546 chilly in the evening perfect hiking temperature. 39 00:02:00,826 --> 00:02:02,869 When you're carrying mail and packages and 40 00:02:02,869 --> 00:02:05,469 have to climb up a mountain it's a long way. 41 00:02:06,139 --> 00:02:07,842 Well, it's not that far away. 42 00:02:07,842 --> 00:02:10,289 Just 20 or 30 minutes to climb up. 43 00:02:10,289 --> 00:02:14,169 The temple was founded in 860 nearly 1200 years ago. 44 00:02:14,169 --> 00:02:16,830 An ancient hike that now has well-maintained 45 00:02:16,830 --> 00:02:19,159 stone and cement steps to the top. 46 00:02:22,099 --> 00:02:23,969 We'll end the episode at the stunning 47 00:02:23,969 --> 00:02:25,981 Godaidal observation deck and an autumn 48 00:02:25,981 --> 00:02:28,631 view of the mountain town below. 49 00:02:28,821 --> 00:02:30,471 It does look much more difficult 50 00:02:30,471 --> 00:02:32,341 from street level though. 51 00:02:32,719 --> 00:02:33,959 (music) 52 00:02:37,448 --> 00:02:38,978 11:59am 53 00:02:39,478 --> 00:02:42,248 We start the climb from under the torii gate. 54 00:02:55,568 --> 00:02:57,868 The real climbing in the forest starts here at 55 00:02:57,868 --> 00:03:00,068 the temple gate. Admission for non postal 56 00:03:00,068 --> 00:03:03,055 workers is 300 yen, open 9 to 5 daily. 57 00:03:09,628 --> 00:03:10,408 Oh really? 58 00:03:14,425 --> 00:03:16,545 Take it step by step, but you have to 59 00:03:16,545 --> 00:03:18,945 stop and look around. There's no reason to 60 00:03:18,945 --> 00:03:20,985 rush it even when you have a postal route. 61 00:03:23,335 --> 00:03:25,455 Yamadera is one of the big attractions of 62 00:03:25,455 --> 00:03:27,645 Tohoku - it's really nice to get out of the city. 63 00:03:37,553 --> 00:03:39,936 The steps up here have a lot of character 64 00:03:39,936 --> 00:03:41,856 built around the ancient rocks that give 65 00:03:41,856 --> 00:03:43,696 you a chance to look around 66 00:03:43,696 --> 00:03:45,899 say hi to the other travelers. 67 00:03:46,269 --> 00:03:46,269 There aren't that many people in the 68 00:03:50,489 --> 00:03:54,489 early mornings and near closing time 69 00:03:54,489 --> 00:03:55,944 the best time to visit and climb.