Mt. Osorezan Gateway to Hell

Eerie. Sulfuric. Hissing. A few of the words used in our travel guide, and more intriguing than those of a typical Japanese destination. We headed north to the Aomori prefecture to witness these curious adjectives first hand.

Once in Mutsu, we boarded the local bus to Mt. Osorezen. The road up the mountain proved scenic. Subtly, quietly, slow chanting was piped through the buses intercom, electronic ghosts in the crackling of broken speakers. A glance at the only other foreigner we'd seen for half a week brought a moment of comfort as we shared a similar edition of the Lonely Planet. Comrades via travelogue!

The brakes squeaked in discordant harmony and there was an unannounced, (or perhaps announced - who knows) roadside stop to a mountain spring. The locals escaped the bus to fill waiting cups with cool water. Willing to try anything we participated in drinking. A sudden flash of potential intestinal regret, but we shrugged it off and returned to the crackling.

As the bus rolled to the top of the mountain the initial impression was normalcy, but then the breeze picked up and you could hear a squeaking rising in volume with the swirls of the gusts. We walked onto temple grounds and the pinwheels left behind by grieving parents came into view, thousands of colorful sticks whirling, some intact, some forced apart, others lying sideways on the rock cairns. The images viewed through a lens seemed limitless.

A few shooting hours later, hungry and completely windblown, we entered the only cafe for a cool ice cream treat. Was it ice cream? We don't know. It was cold... sorta. Paying the bill the waitress asked hastily, "Bus-Ka?" Without our answer she ran out of the restaurant flagging down the latest return ride into town. Many "X" hand gestures later we convinced her we were not ready to leave.

Going back for a second pass, there was still plenty of viewfinder and shutter exertion remaining. A few hundred exposures later the light turned into magic hour. Perfect! Unfortunately it was time to catch the final bus to Mutsu which was anxiously idling in the parking lot 500 meters away. Grabbing our gear and making a run for it we both saw the same "must have" image. Only one of us could get it while the other held the bus.

"You can do it, get the shot!"

I ran to the eerie statues silhouetted against the hissing sulphur sky. I fired the shutter 3 times. Best shots of the day.

--Alicia

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Jizo
• Mutsu
• Osorezan
• death
• volcano
• buddism
• pinwheels

[abaasan]

How much was the bus from mutsu to osorezan?

[studioreddot]

I can't recall the exact amount but I think it was under $7 US.

Make sure you get the return times back from Osorezan. THere are only 4 buses daily. Good luck and enjoy

[lehtineb]

literal translation is 'terror mountain', isn't it? To my understanding, Oz[s]orezan is the waiting ground for those going up or down but have deeds left unfinished in this realm. What a place though? Horror or fear never came to mind the times visited though...

[danschaoticmind]

@fuzzynormal The description based upon the guide actually lists that the founder of the Buddhist temple there saw the dichotomy of"heaven" and "hell" (being the scenic lake and nearby forest as compared to the Lava Dome where most of the geothermal activity is located) as a proper analogy to the teachings of Buddhism. Never mind that the 8 peaks are arrayed much like a lotus pattern (Thus noble 8 fold path) . Personally, I find the place fascinating for its geothermal activity.

[fuzzynormal]

@lehtineb Maybe ask the Japanese. That's a literal translation of how they describe it based on some of their religious beliefs.

[lehtineb]

'Gateway to hell' is a bit over the top isn't it?

[onlywannasee]

Thanks for the video. I went to Osorezan in early August, and your video really transmitted what I felt during my visit. It feels like if it were the end of the world.

[casperrrrr]

Mmm I visited Osoresan last August and I have to say, it is one of my most cherished memories of my time in Japan. Its eerie, heavy, sad, but also beautiful...

[VorpalBob]

That one's a myth, I read the whole story

[fuzzynormal]

Obviously, they drilled through to Dante's 3rd circle of hell...or was it the 4th?

[ieatbabies12]

what was the video when some workers were like digging for oil in the soviet union then that they heard voices or something like that and that they lowered a microphone down there and all you heard were people screaming?