The Osorezan festival, where prayers to Jizo meet thoughts of departed loved ones
Osorezan Grand Festival
The 2026 edition of Osorezan Grand Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/07/20 〜 2026/07/24Ended
- Season / frequency
- Every year from July 20 to July 24 / Every year
- Location
- Sacred Site of Osorezan
- Area
- Aomori Prefecture・Mutsu City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Mountain entry fee: 900 yen
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Osorezan Grand Festival is a religious observance held at the Sacred Site of Osorezan in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture. Through prayers to Jizo and the itako spirit mediums’ kuchiyose, visitors can reflect on departed loved ones and encounter the history and faith of this sacred site.
About Osorezan Grand Festival
The Osorezan Grand Festival is a religious observance held at the Sacred Site of Osorezan in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture.
Two grand festivals are held at Osorezan each year, one in summer and one in autumn, and the summer festival draws pilgrims from across Japan.
It has long been said that praying to Jizo relieves the suffering of the dead.
Festival highlights
One of the main highlights is the itako spirit mediums’ kuchiyose, held during the festival.
It is described as an experience of calling forth the spirits of the dead and seeming to speak with departed loved ones.
The faith expressed through prayers to Jizo on the festival days, along with the pilgrims who come from across Japan, also characterize the event.
The Osorezan festival, where prayers to Jizo meet thoughts of departed loved ones
What to expect
During the festival, visitors travel to the sacred site of Osorezan to pay their respects and pray to Jizo.
It is customary for itako spirit mediums to perform kuchiyose during the festival, offering an experience resembling a conversation with a departed loved one.
The festival is a place of faith visited by pilgrims, and the focus is on quietly observing the prayers and ceremonies.
How to take part
General visitors can visit Osorezan and observe the prayers and ceremonies of the Grand Festival.
Many pilgrims visit from across Japan, but you will need to check whether you can take part as someone performing the Buddhist services or kuchiyose.
When visiting, please behave respectfully toward the sacred site’s religious nature.
Source: むつ市 恐山大祭｜似た催しも｜マチイコ
Location and access
- Venue and address
Sacred Site of Osorezan (3-2 Usoriyama, Tanabu, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture).
- Train and bus
It is a 30-minute drive from JR Omagari Station, or 43 minutes by direct bus to Osorezan from Shimokita Station.
Another guide says it takes 45 minutes by bus from JR Shimokita Station, followed by a short walk from the Osorezan stop.
- By car
It is about a 2-hour 30-minute drive from Hachinohe IC on the Hachinohe Expressway via Routes 338 and 279.
- Parking
There is free parking for 300 vehicles.
Source: 霊場恐山｜観光・文化・スポーツ｜むつ市 / 恐山大祭（青森県／恐山）｜開催期間・アクセス｜るるぶ&more.
Address 3-2 Usoriyama, Tanabu, Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Osorezan Grand Festival was scheduled to take place from July 20 to July 24, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The summer festival is also held every year from July 20 to the 24th.
According to the 2026 event information, July 20 is listed as a Monday and a public holiday.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aomori Prefecture / Mutsu City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The Osorezan Grand Festival is a religious observance held at a sacred site, so please respect the quiet environment and the place of prayer when visiting or observing.
The Sacred Site of Osorezan is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The admission fee is listed as 900 yen. It is advisable to check the event details and facility conditions before visiting.
Nearby attractions
Near the venue are Osorezan Sacred Site / Osorezan Bodai-ji Temple, Osorezan Cold Spring, and the Mt. Kamabuse Observatory.
These are all introduced as places near the Sacred Site of Osorezan on the Osorezan Grand Festival guide page.
If you plan to visit nearby sites, check their operating seasons and conditions of use before you go.
むつ科学技術館
青森県むつ市にある科学館
写真：kitakame / CC BY 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
恐山
日本の青森県にある火山
写真：Douglas P Perkins ( Douglaspperkins ( talk )) / CC BY 3.0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Osorezan Grand Festival
Osorezan was founded in Jogan 4 (862) by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi) and flourished as a Tendai Buddhist training center for ascetic practice.
It was later abandoned after the Kakizaki Rebellion, but was revived in 1530.
The summer Osorezan Grand Festival and the autumn visit are still held today, welcoming worshippers throughout the season.
Official information
The event is held at the Sacred Site of Osorezan, and the contact office is the Osorezan Temple Office.
The contact phone number is 0175-22-3825.
The Aomori Prefecture tourism information site’s guide to the Osorezan Grand Festival also directs visitors to a related page from Shimokita Tourism.
Osorezan Grand Festival at a Glance
The Osorezan Grand Festival is a religious observance held at the Sacred Site of Osorezan, centered on prayers to Jizo and pilgrimage.
The event’s main features include the itako spirit mediums’ kuchiyose and prayers said to relieve the suffering of the dead.
The summer festival is held every year from July 20 to the 24th, offering a chance to encounter the history and faith of this sacred site.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
Submit information or a correction Submit photos of this festival
