[2025 Mutsu Attraction] Travel Guide for Osorezan Bodaiji Temple (Updated Apr)

●Location Mount Osore ●Access 35 minutes by bus from Shimokita Station on the JR Ominato Line The bus to Mount Osore departs 5-10 minutes after the JR Ominato Line arrives, according to operating hours ※Approximately 150 minutes by car from Aomori Station ●Points Did you know that Mount Osore, one of Japan's most sacred places, has heavenly scenery and hot springs? First of all, Osorezan is said to be the closest place to the afterlife, and many people from all over the country visit it as a place to remember their deceased loved ones. The grounds of Osorezan have a 3km long pilgrimage course, and there are 136 "Hells" made of volcanic rocks, representing the hells where people are punished for the sins they committed in this world. There are windmills here and there, but they are toys given by surviving parents to their children so that they can play in hell. The beautiful emerald green lake is also called Gokurakuhama. As for the secret hot spring, there are four bathhouses: one for men, one for women, one for alternating between men and women, and one for mixed bathing, and it is a little hot. There is hot spring water with a slight green hue at the bottom, and hot spring deposits have accumulated. Please avoid bathing for more than 10 minutes as it is a free-flowing spring with strong acidity. #Aomori #Osorezan #Amazing view #Hot spring #Secret hot spring #Amazing view

[Sunset at Mount Osore, Lake Usori, and Cape Oma, Shimokita Peninsula, Hotokegaura, Aomori] This is a record of our trip to Aomori, when we chartered a minibus as a group and watched the sunset at Mount Osore, Lake Usori, and Cape Oma, Shimokita Peninsula. We recommend that you go there in a mentally healthy state, with respect and caution towards places with spiritual legends. When we went there in August, the spiritual atmosphere from people was not strong, and it was easy to accept the environment as an outdoor activity. There are active volcanoes in every country, but as an example of a Japanese volcano, we can also recommend this place to those who like observing mountains. Osorezan in Shimokita Peninsula Quasi-National Park, Aomori Prefecture 🕰️Opening hours: Mountain climbing season: May 1st to the end of October 6:00-18:00 *Entry reception closes at 16:30 Closed: November to the end of April (Open every year between May 1st and October 31st) 💰Price per person: Adults 700 yen, elementary and junior high school students 200 yen Groups 400 yen (20 or more people per group) Access: About 40 minutes by car from JR Shimokita Station 📍Location: 3-2 Usoriyama, Tanabe, Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture As I walked around the places named after hell and heaven from the temple grounds as guided, I heard the sound of the wind rattling the many windmills that pilgrims had inserted into the rocks, the sound of the straight wind hitting the rocks, the cold air, and the sunlight passing through the gaps in my hair. Along with Mount Hiei and Mount Koya, Mount Osore is one of the three most sacred mountains in Japan. Locals have long said that when people die, they go to Mount Osore. The sacred grounds, surrounded by the outer rim of the mountain, are a cut-off place that cannot be seen from the outside. When you cross the drum bridge over the Sanzu River and enter the sacred area, a landscape that resembles the world of the afterlife spreads before your eyes. Gokurakuhama, with its beauty reminiscent of the Pure Land, Jigokudani, with its sulfurous smell, the desolate Hell of Inferno, and Pond of Blood Hell... At Sai no Kawara, there are stones piled up by parents to mourn their young child who passed away, and a windmill spinning around, creating a melancholy atmosphere. Mount Osore Bodaiji Temple was founded in 862. It is said that Ennin, the founder of the temple, was guided by a prophecy in a dream and founded Mount Osore Bodaiji Temple in Shimokita at the end of his journey to preach his teachings to various countries. During the "Osorezan Grand Festival" held every year from July 20th to 24th, and the "Osorezan Autumn Pilgrimage" held during the long weekend in early October, many people line up to hear messages from the afterlife from shrine maidens called "Itako," who call out the spirits of the dead. ' There are also events in which "Itako" spirit mediums can hear messages from ancestors and deceased family members, or exorcise evil spirits that have possessed the client and help them attain enlightenment, and there are also self-proclaimed fortune tellers in the fortune telling market, but only a limited number of people who were born in this area of ​​Aomori Prefecture to a lineage of Itakos and have trained and studied since childhood are allowed to play the role of Itako. It is a pilgrimage destination for various purposes, such as mourning children and those affected by natural disasters, and is a base for travelers from all over the country, including the Tohoku region and Hokkaido. Hot Springs: Please bring your own swimsuit and towel. The facilities are simple and not a place to wash your body, but you can recover from fatigue in the sulfur baths. Lake Usori Lake Usori, which appears shallow at first glance and has a clear emerald-colored surface, can be reached by walking around the area within the grounds of Mount Osore. The water is highly acidic, which separates living creatures, and only one species of fish can live there, the Japanese dace. This caldera lake was formed by the eruption of Mount Tsurugi in the Osorezan mountain range. There are a dozen or so rivers that flow into the outer rim, but only one river flows out of it, the Shozu River, which flows into the Tsugaru Strait. The outer rim consists of eight peaks: Mount Keito, Mount Jizo, Mount Tsurugi, Mount Ojin, Mount Kojin, Mount Hokkoku, Mount Byobu, and Mount Kamafusa. Lake Usori and the outer rim are collectively called Mount Osore. The northeastern part of the lake is within the precincts of the sacred Mount Osore, where hot springs bubble up and volcanic gas and steam erupt from places. Mount Osore is designated as an active volcano. Omazaki, Shimokita Peninsula: Watch the waves crashing at the northernmost point of Honshu. There are also various monuments. Hotokegaura On the drive back, we saw the sun at its largest when it set. It was similar to the intensity of the light when watching the sunset at the twelve apostles from the coast in Victoria, Australia. #DomesticTravelTactics #Spring0YenTrip #MyTravelPlanBestSpots2014Aomori

It's just under 30 minutes by car from Mutsu city on a well-maintained, beautiful mountain road. When the ghost craze was happening on the TV show "A World You Don't Know," which is well known to those of the Showa generation, you can imagine that Mount Osore was a scary place even for children, with a desolate landscape and a medium who would speak to the voices of the dead through spirit mediums. It would be unthinkable for me to come all the way to Mutsu city on the Shimokita Peninsula and not visit Mount Osore, so I came here early in the morning. The weather was amazing, and the temple was surprisingly well-maintained. Even though the scenery was bleak with stonework everywhere that smelled of sulfur, the mountains behind were beautiful with autumn leaves🍁, so it didn't feel ominous😊 Temple name: Osorezan Bodaiji Main image: Enmei Jizo Bodhisattva Founder: Jikaku Daishi Ennin Main temple: Soto Zen sect Entsuji A sacred place opened by Jikaku Daishi Ennin 1200 years ago, with mountains surrounding Lake Usori, the rocky area where volcanic gas spews is likened to hell, and the white sand beach surrounding the lake is likened to paradise. It is a place of faith and prayer where people come to mourn the souls of their loved ones and remember the faces of the deceased. It was good weather and there weren't many people early in the day, so we were able to take our time going around the route. In some places, people were building stonework and windmills, and I also built stonework and prayed to my husband and ancestors. When I got a goshuin at the shrine office, an old man said to me, "If you have time, you should come to the hot spring ♨️, it's free," so there's no way a hot spring lover wouldn't go 😆 The warm water of the sulfur spring No one came in, so I had it all to myself to warm up 😊 #Osorezan #Autumn leaves 🍁 season #Free hot springs at sacred sites are the best ♨️ #Shimokita Peninsula #Misawa Airport #A trip to meet people #Aomori is a great place

⭐Spot Highlights: Osorezan Bodaiji Temple is a sacred site located on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. It has long been known as one of Japan's three major sacred sites. The desolate landscape, with its sulfur-scented hot springs and gray rocky terrain, creates a unique atmosphere. Osorezan is said to be a gathering place for the souls of the deceased, offering visitors a sense of holy tranquility and mystery. ❤Recommended Points: The charm of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple lies in its otherworldly scenery. The contrast between the hellish landscape and the small flowers blooming there is striking. Additionally, the main hall and statues of the Six Jizo welcome worshippers. The temple grounds also feature hot springs, allowing visitors to relax and rejuvenate both body and mind after their visit. The annual Osorezan Festival in July attracts many visitors, who can fully experience the sacred atmosphere. 🚌Access: It takes about 40 minutes by bus from JR Shimokita Station to Osorezan, or about 40 minutes by car. Since public transportation is limited, renting a car is convenient. ❗Useful Information: Osorezan is at a high altitude and often has low temperatures, so it is recommended to bring warm clothing even in summer. The temple grounds are extensive, so comfortable walking shoes are essential. Be cautious as sulfur springs can damage clothing and metal items. 🛒Shopping: Near Osorezan Bodaiji Temple, there are shops selling amulets, prayer beads, and local souvenirs. Bath salts made from the hot spring water of Osorezan and items symbolizing the sacred site are particularly popular.