Mount Motome

Mount Motome [鷲眼山; もとめさん] is a mountain located in the Motoyama Hills, in northern Kanton. It has an elevation of around 900 metres, making it the tallest peak in its range. 
Mount Motome was historically a place in which monks and priests would retreat and undergo ascetic practices for purification purposes. According to local legend, a large temple was built at the top of the mountain, in which pilgrims could stay and worship in isolation and peace. It is thought that the surrounding plateau was developed for the monks, with small rice fields and irrigation established. Unfortunately, both the temple and its grounds have been lost to time, with only a small ruin confirming the existence of such a structure.
There are still monks who train and worship on Mount Motome. The mountain's steep, smooth slopes are well-suited for cliff rituals, or kainoki, in which monks abseil down rock-faces suspended by sacred rope. A modern-day religious retreat, known as the Motome Monastery, is a self-catering hostel in which monks can stay while spending time on the mountain. Civilians can also book their own retreats to Mount Motome, and even take part in some rituals, such as fire-walking (hibaraku) and kainoki.
Category:Mountains