Guide to visit Oiwasan Bishamonten
Visiting information
Main temple opening day
You are free to visit the precincts of Oiwasan Bishamonten at any time.
If you wish to pray, obtain a red seal or a good-luck charm, please refer to the calendar for the days when the main hall is open and the shrine office is open.
Traffic Information
Approaches to Oiwasan Bishamonten
There are three paths leading from the foot of Mt. Oiwa to the main temple of Oiwasan Bishamonten.
1.Otokozaka course
This is the steepest course among the approaches leading to the main temple of Bishamonten.
The Otokozaka entrance is located at the stone pillar sanmon gate next to the Otokozaka-guchi parking lot at the foot of Mt. Oiwa.
This is a mountain road that goes straight along the ridge of Mt. Oiwa to the main temple of Bishamonten. The slope is particularly steep near the entrance, so please be careful.
2.Onnazaka course
This is the second steepest course among the approaches to the main temple of Bishamonten.If you walk down the highway from the Otokozaka entrance, the Onnazaka entrance is about 5 minutes away. Onnazaka is a mountain road that climbs up a valley and is relatively gentle. Along the way, Fudo-Myoo is enshrined next to the water source. Also, at the end there is a winding curve with a slightly steep slope.
3.Motorway course
This is the most gentle path among the approaches. The road is paved with concrete and leads to the entrance of Bishamonten. It also continues beyond that to West Park and East Park.
Several cars can be parked under Bishamonten precincts and in West Park.
Mt. Oiwa hiking course
In addition to the above courses, there is also a hiking course that runs from Orihime-jinja Shrine to Mt. Gyodo.
How to worship
Please wash your hands and mouth at the Mizuya in front of the Sanmon Gate.
There is a bell in front of the main temple of Bishamonten. Please ring the bell, join your hands in prayer, and pray silently.
When Goma training is not performed in the main temple, a Goma-gi (special firewood used during Goma training) is placed in front of the main temple.
Please fill out your prayer details and deposit 500 yen in cash along with the goma-gi in the offering box in front of the main temple. At a later date, during the Goma training, we will burn it in the Goma fire and pray for it.
The main temple of Oiwasan Bishamonten is located near the summit of the mountain, which is home to a wide variety of giant and oddly shaped rocks, as indicated by the temple's name, Oiwasan Tamonin Saikyoji Temple. Since its establishment in 745, the temple has flourished as a major training center for Shugendo (mountain asceticism). Even today, Shugendo practitioners can be seen here. To reach the main temple of Bishamonten near the summit from Saishoji-temple-Honbo at the foot of Mount Oiwa, visitors take a trail that has been used by worshippers since ancient times.