Mount Osore

Osorezan is counted as one of Japan’s Three Great Sacred Sites, alongside Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture and Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture. A sacred site refers to a place believed to be prone to religious miracles and spiritual phenomena. Osorezan is said to have been founded in 862, when the Buddhist monk Jikaku Daishi Ennin visited the area following a divine revelation in a dream. The mountain is also known for the itako spirit mediums, who perform kuchiyose rituals—said to allow communication with the dead—during festivals held twice a year. The red Taiko Bridge within the grounds is believed to span the Sanzu River, which connects this world with the afterlife, and legend says that distinctions between men and women disappear once one crosses over; unfortunately, the bridge is currently closed due to deterioration. At Sai no Kawara, you can see stone cairns said to have been stacked by the spirits of children who died before their parents, in hopes of attaining peace in the afterlife. It is believed that demons knock these piles down, forcing the children to repeat the task, so grieving parents offer colorful pinwheels to bring them joy. In contrast to the hellish, desolate landscape around Sai no Kawara, Gokurakuhama on the shore of Lake Usori exudes a paradise-like atmosphere, true to its name. The air around Osorezan is filled with the distinctive scent of sulfur, and the site has four hot spring baths that pilgrims can enjoy for day-use bathing.