Mt. Kasho (1,322 m) is in Kamihocchi-machi, Numata City in Gunma Prefecture. The area is a part of deep mountains and dark valleys in the Hotaka mountains. Mt. Kasho was considered as a holy place, where Tengu lived and the mountain itself was worshipped by local villagers in the old days.

Legend has it that a monk, who had been performing ascetic training in this mountain, became the Great Tengu, Chuho Sonja, and ruled the mountain. There is a hall enshrining Chuho Sonja at Kashozan Mirokuji Temple on the flank of the mountain. The temple is one of Japan’s three large temples enshrining Tengu and it houses a lot of Tengu masks dedicated by worshippers.

Mt. Kasho has fine views that change from season to season; tender green in spring, calls of dollarbirds in summer, crimson foliage in fall and white snow in winter. There are also many oddly-shaped rocks in the area including the huge rock seen from the starting point of the trail up the mountain, which is called “Oshodai (the priest’s pedestal)” and an old ascetic training ground of “Tainai Sengan (passing through the womb).”