Ōyama Afuri Jinja (lower shrine)

photo by Tak1701d · CC BY-SA 3.0

photo by comachiangel · CC BY 3.0

The Ōyama-mairi, an Edo-period pilgrimage, is now Japan Heritage.

Founded more than 2,200 years ago according to tradition (Jōmon pottery has been excavated here), the shrine on the sacred mountain of Ōyama was revered by Minamoto no Yoritomo and by the Hōjō and Tokugawa clans. In the Edo period ordinary people began to climb it in great numbers, combining pilgrimage with a day trip out of town: this custom, called Ōyama-mairi, is now recognised as Japan Heritage (日本遺産). The ropeway takes you from the base to the lower shrine in about six minutes, climbing 300 metres; from there to the summit shrine it is another ninety minutes on foot along the trail.

A Shinto shrine on Mount Ōyama (1,252 m), in Isehara; according to the Michelin Green Guide Japan, the view from the shrine has been awarded two stars.

ℹ️ Ropeway from Ōyama Cable station to the lower shrine station: about 470 yen one way (adults), 240 yen children; 250/130 yen as far as Ōyama-dera. Access: Odakyū line to Isehara, then bus to the foot of the ropeway.

🚉 阿夫利神社 · 2 min walk

Sources: kanagawa-kankou.or.jp · city.isehara.kanagawa.jp · tanzawa-oyama.jp · iseharabu.com

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