小仏峠, pronounced Kobotoke Touge, is a mountain pass on Sasa Ridge.
On the run from Mt Takao to Mt Jimba, you pass through Kobotoke Pass between Mt Shiroyama and Mt Kagenobu.
The Sasa Ridge starts at Takaosanguchi train station and along its path are mountains including Mt Jimba, Mt Shoutou, and Mt Makiyose, ending at the peak of Mt Mito just before Lake Okutama.
Of the many mountain passes crossing the ridge, Kobotoke Pass has an interesting history – dating back to the Edo Period.
What is Significant About Kobotoke Touge?
Before the highways and train lines, with their tunnels traveling through mountains, the citizenry of Japan needed to follow the terrain to get from place to place.
In the Edo Period (circa 1600 – 1867), the Shogun required his vassals to travel frequently between the capital and their own domains. These trips would be arduous tasks, with many samurai traveling on foot or horseback. They carried possession and gifts with them along the way.
With something like 80% of Japan being mountainous, going up and over mountains could not be avoided. Routes over mountains were created at the easiest to cross sections. These became the mountain passes. For the most part, they are the lowest areas between peaks on a ridge, This is not always the case, though. They also require an easy approach so that you can carry goods with you.
There were 5 main arteries leading to the capital in Edo. The Edo period samurai processions usually followed these roads. The 甲州道中 – Koshuu Douchuu – was one of them. It connected the domains of 武蔵国 – Musashi no Kuni, 相模国 – Sagami no Kuni, 甲斐国 – Kai no Kuni, and 信濃国 – Shinano no Kuni.
On the the Koshuu Douchuu, Kobotoke Touge was the first mountain pass on the way out of Edo. At 548m in altitude, it was considered a very difficult section on the road.
In 1880, the Meji Emperor made his way across Kobotoke Pass on his way to tour Kyoto, Mie, and Yamanashi. There is a monument to commemorate the occasion.
As an aside, there is an interesting story about that Meiji emperor trip. He stayed at an inn in Yamanashi. After he left the next morning, the proprietor distributed his used bath water to people in the community.
So, Why Is It Called Little Buddha Pass?
If you have spent any time in the Japanese mountains, you know that there are small shrines and temples dotting the hillside. Small jizo statues wth their red caps and bibs pop up along almost every trail.
The Edo Period (~1590 – 18xx) was apparently little different. On this mountain pass, considered perhaps the most difficult section of the Koshu Dochu, a tiny Buddha statue was enshrined. They say it was 一寸八分 – issun hachibu -in height. 1 sun is 3.03 cm, and 1 bu is 0.303 cm. Therefore, 1 sun and 8 bu would be a whopping 5.454 cm or 2.15 inches.
Little Buddha, indeed!