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. This is Sasahara San who has been on this route for several years. He parks at the Yamadera Post Office and then hikes up the same as tourists. Autumn here is warm in the afternoon sun, chilly in the evening perfect hiking temperature. When you're carrying mail and packages and have to climb up a mountain it's a long way. Well, it's not that far away. Just 20 or 30 minutes to climb up. The temple was founded in 860 nearly 1200 years ago. An ancient hike that now has well-maintained stone and cement steps to the top. We'll end the episode at the stunning Godaidal observation deck and an autumn view of the mountain town below. It does look much more difficult from street level though. (music) 11:59am We start the climb from under the torii gate. The real climbing in the forest starts here at the temple gate. Admission for non postal workers is 300 yen, open 9 to 5 daily. Oh really? Take it step by step, but you have to stop and look around. There's no reason to rush it even when you have a postal route. Yamadera is one of the big attractions of Tohoku. It's really nice to get out of the city. The steps up here have a lot of character built around the ancient rocks that give you a chance to look around say hi to the other travelers. There aren't that many people in the early mornings and near closing time the best time to visit and climb. We passed the Midahora Rock, worn from centuries of weather resembling a figure of Amida Buddha. We took a break at the halfway mark and I asked Sasahara San what Yamadera's attraction is to him. [Laughter] Aaahhh. The climb up is easy today - no packages. But sometimes he does have to bring them up. 12:09pm This is Niomon Gate, a scenic spot to cross from the forest to the opening top of the mountain. The Yamagata fall colors seem to start a month before Tokyo. (flute music) From we start to enter the mountain-top village where only a handful of people actually live. Even without any roads to drive up, mail needs to be picked up and dropped off like every small town around the country. "Here we go." The view is also easier to admire. We're about 300m above sea level. The mail must be delivered no matter what. So it is true almost nothing stops the Post Office. We've reached the public mail box. Sasahara San makes another delivery. We've got more work to do before picking up the mail from the public post box. (dog barking) One resident was happy for the visit OK! As we move to the digital world, it's good to remember that these daily interactions also become more important too. The delivery of mail - that human connection - important in remote areas. We quickly visited the main hall, Daibutsuden, and made our way back down to the post box.