Mt. Osore
Osorezan, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Website: www.soultrackers.com/ soultrackers/invest/famous/ mtosore.html
I lived in Misawa, Japan from 2002 to 2004 during part of my enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. While in Japan, I learned about some beliefs of spirituality and the paranormal that prevail in their culture. I was told of a particular mountain, only a few hours drive from the base, called Mt. Osore, or “Fear Mountain.” This mountain is a dormant volcano with a shrine at the center. Mt. Osore is also referred to as “The Gateway to the Dead.” This is one of three Reizan sites in Japan. This means “Mountains dedicated to gods or Buddha.” The Japanese believe that their deceased loved ones go to these locations to cross over to the other side, similar to our stairway to heaven or tunnel of light.
I have been to Mt. Osore twice. On the first trip, a friend and I made the two-hour drive from Misawa to Mt. Osore. Even before we got out of the truck, the smell of rotten eggs was very distinct. When we opened the doors, the thick smell of sulfur clung to the mountain air and was a strong reminder of the volcano that we were on. Yellow stains were visible throughout the grounds, marking all of the natural sulfur vents. Five temple statues stood watch over the entrance to the left. When we passed through the large gates of the entrance, I had an overwhelming psychic sensation as if there were thousands of people watching me. I have been in the field of paranormal investigation since the 1990s, and this location had the most overwhelming, powerful force that I had ever felt in my life.
While walking the vast grounds, we could see several buildings and the first of many temples. There was a mix of older and newer style Japanese architecture all around. Toward the back of the compound were trails that led throughout the volcanic terrain. A Buddha statue known as Jizo, protector of those condemned to hell, sat on one of the hills. There was also a 9th-century temple dedicated to all the souls of the unborn. The sulfuric lake in the center had a large beach area, and everywhere you looked there were piles of rocks, big and small, tall and wide. Each stone represented someone’s beloved ancestor whose soul resided in the mountain. I was awestruck as I stared across the hills. There were thousands of rock piles as far as the eye could see.
To walk through Mt. Osore was like being in an episode of the Twilight Zone. I had strong feelings of death and sensations of being watched. This is one of the most energy-rich places that I have ever been to, and I will never forget the experience.
