Mt. Hikami's Downfall
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Content
Mt. Hikami has long been considered holy
ground. For centuries people have been drawn to
the many sacred shrines and places of worship,
as well as the natural features such as the Twilit
Peak and the Pool of Purification, which have
themselves been treated with great reverence.
The mountain was also popular with tourists and
mountain climbers for the beauty of its abundant
clear waters and ancient, mysterious forests.
Worshippers and hikers alike used to find rest
at Ichiru Manor, a hot spring resort near
the foot of the mountain.
Now, the inn lies desolate, devoid of visitors.
The mountain never recovered from a
devastating landslide it suffered many years ago.
The shrine road to the summit was cut off and
the flow of the water throughout the mountain
was altered, forever changing the landscape.
New roads that were under construction had to
be abandoned, and Ichiru Manor was buried
under a slew of rock, resulting in numerous
fatalities. Among those lost were the family of
Ichiru Manor's proprietor, effectively putting
an end to the business.
Mt. Hikami's days as a tourist destination were
no more. Instead, the mountain gained notoriety
as a suicide spot.
Perhaps because it was traditionally a destination
to which the dying would venture, the mountain
is now a place for those wishing to end their
own lives. By extension, it has also become
a place for thrill-seekers interested in the occult.