11 must-see tourist spots: Rediscover yourself at the sacred site of Mount Osore

When you think of one of the most sacred places in Japan, what comes to mind? Here in the northernmost part of Honshu, on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture, there is Mount Osore, one of the three major sacred places in Japan. Mount Osore is also designated as a Shimokita Peninsula Quasi-National Park.

Mount Osore is surrounded by eight peaks: Mount Kamagasu, Mount Ojin, Mount Kojin, Mount Hokkoku, Mount Byobu, Mount Tsurugi, Mount Jizo, and Mount Keito. There is no mountain called Mount Osore, and the name is a corrupted version of Mount Usori. Some people may be put off by the word "sacred place," but Mount Osore is a special place surrounded by a solemn and dignified atmosphere, and tourists never cease to flock to it. Mount Osore is a sacred place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. After reading this article, even those who have never been interested in it will want to visit.

1. Mount Osore and Bodaiji Temple

Mount Osore Bodaiji is a Soto Zen temple with Jizo Bodhisattva as its principal image. Mount Osore is also famous as a temple for water burials. Here and there, you can see Jizo statues, Nio statues, windmills for memorial services, and hand towels that say "I've come to visit my deceased loved ones." During the Heian period, Jikaku Daishi Ennin had a dream in which he was told, "Go east for more than 30 days and you will find a sacred mountain. Spread the Buddhist path there." As the number of people who practiced asceticism and went on pilgrimages there increased, it became the place of faith that it is today.

If you are visiting as a tourist, you will first pay the entrance fee at the main gate. After that, walk along the long, straight approach to Mount Osore Bodaiji. Stone lanterns are lined up at equal intervals on both sides, making you feel as if you have wandered into a mysterious world.

2. Jizo Bodhisattva and Acala

At Mount Osore, there is a narrow, gentle slope marked "Fudoson Sando (Approach to Fudoson)". Once you are surrounded by greenery, the slope becomes quite steep, but if you continue on, you will come to Jizo Bodhisattva and Acala at Okunoin (Inner Sanctuary) of Mount Osore. Many tourists visit to see the impressive Jizo Bodhisattva and Acala.

The land of Jizo Bodhisattva is the earth, and "kura" (storehouse) represents the womb that gives birth to life, the heart of a mother. It is said that Jizo Bodhisattva is the earth that continues to support people even when they are trampled on by others, and the heart of a mother that accepts her child's pain as her own.

3. Drum Bridge over the River Sanzu

There is a bright red "Taiko Bridge" in front of the sacred Mount Osore. This is the "Sanzu Bridge" over the Sanzu River, which separates this world from the other. It is said that if a person who was a bad person in life tries to cross this "Sanzu Bridge", they will see it as a mountain of needles and will be unable to cross. Some people may feel a little nervous when they cross the "Sanzu Bridge" with such a story in mind. The river that flows here is the "Sanzu River", but its official name is the Masatsu River, and it flows into Lake Usoneko. The area is filled with the smell of sulfur flowing from the nearby hot springs.

Due to deterioration, the Taiko Bridge is currently being replaced with a stone bridge. It is scheduled to be completed around July 2024. If you visit as a tourist after the completion, it is a bridge that you should definitely cross.

4. Datsueba and "Ken'eoji

Once you cross the red arched bridge over the Sanzu River, you will come across the statues of two people, Datsueba and Ken'e-o. This story comes from a story about the afterlife that appears in the Chinese "Jing of Ten Kings".

According to this story, Datsueba and Ken'e-o divide us into two groups: hell and paradise. So how do they decide where we go? Actually, when crossing the Sanzu River, Datsueba strips off all of her clothing.

The clothes are then given to Ken'e-o, who hangs them on a willow tree. The more the willow branches droop, the more evil deeds the person committed in life, and the more likely they are to go to hell.

This story is engraved in front of the statues of Datsueba and Ken'e-o here in Osorezan, and it has become a tourist spot that attracts many tourists.

5. Hell Tour

Have you ever wondered what the hell in the afterlife looks like? Mount Osore's Hell Tour lets you imagine and experience the hell of the afterlife, attracting many tourists.

In this desolate volcanic landscape, the first sign you'll see is 'Mugen Jigoku' (Endless Hell), one of the eight great hells in Buddhism. Other hells like 'Chinoike Jigoku' (Blood Pond Hell) and 'Juzai Jigoku' (Hell of Serious Crimes) are also featured. While the word 'hell' might make you nervous, visitors enjoy it as a leisurely stroll. So, feel free to give it a try

6. Lake Usori

Lake Usori is a calm and tranquil lake. Its name means paradise beyond hell. As Lake Usori means paradise, it is called Gokurakuhama Beach and tourists spend their time peacefully here.

There are many windmills, flowers and offerings on the sandy beach. This is because Osorezan Bodaiji Temple is a temple for water burials. Sad parents and family members make offerings so that their children who have passed away and cannot meet them will not feel lonely. These windmills and flowers are sold at Osorezan, so you can purchase them and make offerings.

7. Hot Springs

Osorezan is a volcano, so hot springs gush out from it. The grounds of "Osorezan Bodaiji Temple" also smell of sulfur from the hot springs. You can bathe in these hot springs at "Osorezan Bodaiji Temple" by paying the mountain entrance fee.

"Furutaki no Yu" is for men only, and "Reibuki no Yu" is for women only, both of which are cypress baths. Both "Furutaki no Yu" and "Reibuki no Yu" are used by guests staying at Osorezan's temple lodgings, so you can bathe in them at night.

Hanasome no Yu is a hot spring located next to the approach to the temple, and has a strong sulfur smell. The water is a little warm. There is a free rest area after you leave the hot spring, so it's a good idea to take a break there.

All the hot springs are very simple in construction. As these hot springs at "Osorezan Bodaiji Temple" are located in a sacred place, many tourists who love hot springs visit them.

8. Six Jizo

Near the main gate, there are six large Jizo statues, or Rokujizo. The Jizo statues themselves can be seen in cemeteries all over Japan, but the Jizo statues here at Osorezan are so large that they are a popular tourist spot. The name

Jizo comes from the Buddhist concept of reincarnation in the six realms of hell, hungry ghosts, animals, asuras, humans, and heaven. The Jizo statues are said to save us from the various sufferings that exist in these six realms. They are Danta Jizo, who saves us from hell; Hoju Jizo, who saves us from hungry ghosts; Hoin Jizo, who saves us from animals; Jizo Jizo, who saves us from asuras; Jogeishu Jizo, who saves us from humans; and Nikko Jizo, who saves us from the heavens. Many tourists take pictures of these magnificent Jizo statues before leaving.

9. Spiritual possession by Itako

One of the famous tourist attractions at the sacred site of Mount Osore is the Itako's spirit mediumship. An Itako is a spiritualist, and when an Itako listens to the words of spirits and conveys them to them, this is called Itako's spirit mediumship.

It is only held at Mount Osore in July, when the annual summer festival is held, and in early October, during the autumn pilgrimage period, and many tourists line up for these days. In this spirit mediumship, you write the birth date and death date of the person you want to meet but cannot meet on a piece of paper, and after three minutes of prayer, you receive the words from the person. People from all

over the country flock to this place, as they can receive the words of those they cannot meet. There is a long waiting time for this Itako spirit mediumship, so if you are visiting as a tourist, we recommend that you stay overnight at a temple lodge in Mount Osore and line up early in the morning.

10. Mount Osore: Cold Water

Near Mount Osore, in the Japanese cypress forest along Prefectural Route 4, comes the famous rejuvenating water Osorezan Cold Water. It is said that if you drink one cup of this water, you will be 10 years younger, if you drink two cups, you will be 20 years younger, and if you drink three cups, you will be young until death. This mysterious rejuvenating water is very popular with tourists.

Unlike today, people in the past visited Mount Osore on foot. The long walk makes you thirsty. At such times, they quenched their thirst with this "Osorezan Cold Water".

Nowadays, you visit the shrine by bus or car, but if you take a bus, the bus will stop at Osorezan Cold Water so you can drink the rejuvenating water "Osorezan Cold Water". It is a special water that you will want to try if you visit as a tourist.

11. Gassho Reijyo Ice Cream

Gassho Reijo Ice Cream can be enjoyed at Osorezan. It is sold at a nostalgic shop, a stark contrast to the solemn atmosphere of Osorezan. It is a very popular ice cream among tourists during the hot summer months. Gassho Ice Cream comes in mugwort and blueberry flavors.

It is a special treat to enjoy at the sacred site of Osorezan while waiting for a summer Itako to summon you, after enjoying a hot spring, or on the way back from sightseeing at Jigoku Mekuri and Gokurakuhama.

◎Summary

This was an introduction to the sacred site of Mount Osore, located on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. It is a tourist spot where you can experience the boundary between this world and the afterlife. In the past, the majority of tourists were older, but with the recent boom in power spots, it has also attracted attention from younger people, and many young tourists are now visiting.

According to the head of the Osorezan Bodai Temple, Mount Osore is not a power spot, but a powerless spot. This is because it is a space of nothingness that allows you to feel the emotions of the deceased.

Mount Osore is a tourist spot where you can experience death once and then meet your reborn self. Why not experience death while you are still alive, be reborn and meet a new you?

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11 must-see tourist spots: Rediscover yourself at the sacred site of Mount Osore