MONT OSORE

Considered one of Japan's three most sacred sites, along with Koyasan and Hieizan, Mount Osore is as fascinating as it is awe-inspiring. Its name, "Mountain of Fear", evokes a landscape of rare intensity: grey volcanic soil, sulphurous fumaroles and the milky waters of Lake Usori. This singular setting is reminiscent of Buddhist representations of the afterlife. The souls of dead children build pebble cairns on the banks of the Sanzu River, guided by Jizō, the bodhisattva of the departed, whose statues stand silent vigil.