//
Temple in Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mount Osore (恐山 Osorezan) is a temple and miniature wasteland in the middle of the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori, Japan.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Bodaiji Temple (菩提寺, also referred to as Entsuji), run by the Soto Zen sect, is built around a number of volcanic cauldrons (Jp. jigoku, literally "hells"), bubbling in all sorts of unnatural shades from canary yellow to blood red. There are also many, many offerings to the souls of the dead scattered around the area, including tiny Jizo statues wearing bibs and piles of pebbles built (or so they say) by the souls of children who died before their parents. Entrance to the temple costs ¥500 (including a dip in the baths, see Do).
Most visitors arrive by bus from Mutsu. A rarely-used road (not served by public transport) also links to the Yagen Valley.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Hakodate · International · HKD
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Mount Osore and Japan.
Travel tipsCheck if you need a visa for Japan in 2026. Discover visa-exempt nationalities, eVisa eligibility, stay durations, and how to use Visit Japan Web QR codes.
7 min read
Travel tipsPlan for Japan's new travel costs in 2026. Learn about the ¥3,000 international departure tax, tiered hotel taxes in Kyoto, and Mt Fuji trail fees.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
ItinerariesPlan a trip to Japan with kids in 2026. Discover a family-tested 10-day itinerary with theme parks, bullet trains, and practical parenting tips.
8 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.