立山寺

Oiwasan Nisseki-ji features a main hall housing a three-meter stone statue of Fudo Myoo set within mountain forests and surrounded by natural waterfalls. The grounds are organized with walking paths that wind through dense vegetation and multiple elevations.

The temple was founded in 725 but was burned down in the 16th century by feudal lord Maeda of the Kaga domain. Its reconstruction following this destruction shaped the layout and character of the site today.

The site hosts regular Goma ceremonies where wooden prayer tablets are burned as offerings to Fudo Myoo, a practice rooted in local Buddhist tradition. Visitors can observe these rituals and understand how prayer and devotion take physical form here.

The site is accessed via local transportation and walking paths leading to the temple, suitable for different fitness levels. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the trails wind through forested areas with uneven surfaces.

Six designated waterfalls on the grounds serve as meditation spots where practitioners perform Takigyo, a water purification ritual under cold streams. This physical discipline remains a rarely witnessed practice that few visitors experience directly.

Location: Kamiichi

GPS coordinates: 36.69644,137.39844

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:22