The Famous Mount Ontake

Located on the border between Nagano and Gifu prefectures, Mount Ontake has been worshipped as a holy mountain since the Heian period. The steep and beautiful mountain, the deep forest and the clear waterfalls still attract many climbers. There are four main trails: the Kurosawa-guchi Trail, the Otaki-guchi Trail, the Kaita-guchi Trail, which are via the Kiso side, and the Kosakiguchi Trail via the Hida side. The Kurosawa-guchi Trail and the Otakiguchi Trail were established in the middle of the Edo period for the worship of Ontake. On any route, you can enjoy trekking while feeling the culture of nature and prayer.

100 days of Austere Training

Mt. Ontake first appeared in historical documents in the early 8th century. It is said that the Shinano governor of the time built a shrine on the summit of the mountain. Since then, the mountain has been used as a training ground for Shugendo, and many ascetics have practised hard asceticism there. Ontake Zaou Daigongen is worshipped in the mountain. Since its foundation, the mountain has been strictly closed as a sanctuary for the gods and Buddha. It is said that an ascetic could only enter the mountain after 100 days of devotion and purification.

Monks Kakumei & Fukan

Mt. Ontake was opened to the general public in the 18th century. Kakumei Gyoja and Fukan Gyoja built a trail from the Kurosawa-guchi Trail and the Otaki-guchi, and ordinary people who went through a short period of purification were allowed to climb the mountain. Since then, the people have carefully preserved their own faith: About 20,000 "Reijin Monuments" dedicated to the teaching that "the souls of believers return to the mountain after death", "Gozatate", in which an ascetic lowers the deity to his body and obtains trust, and "Takigyo(Waterfall Meditation)", in which the body and mind are purified. Even now, in the summer, you can see people dressed in white practising their asceticism.