Mount Iwaki – looking over Aomori
Mount Iwaki is located to the northwest of Hirosaki City. It is the highest mountain in Aomori, with an altitude of 1,625 meters. Mount Iwaki is included in the Hundred Famous Mountains of Japan. Iwakiyama Shrine is at the southeast foot of Mount Iwaki. People lovingly called it “Oiwaki sama” or “Oyama sama”. It was founded about 1250 years ago in 780. In 800, Shogun Tamuramaro Sakanoue rebuilt the shrine, constructing a separate shrine in Tokoshinai village. The shrine on the mountain was named “Okumiya” or the rear shrine. During the Edo era, Tsugaru clan lords such as Tamenobu Tsugaru, conducted a large scale expansion of the shrine. It served as a shrine to protect the north gate and was highly revered as the god of agriculture and fishing, commerce and industry, medicine, transportation, and most of all, as the god of good fortune.
Mount Iwaki itself is God
Stand at the entrance of the shrine. Mount Iwaki stands on the other side of the torii. It is a majestic sight, and yet it is also calming. We were told, ”This scenery is the object of worship. The mountain itself is enshrined as a God.”
”Okumiya” or the rear shrine is located near the summit of Mount Iwaki, and the approach to the shrine is also one of the trails of Mount Iwaki. During the ”Mountain Worship”, which is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset, worshippers climb toward Okumiya by walking along the approach, with appreciation and prayer for an abundant harvest.
Nakata bows once before climbing the approach to the shrine. We were told that during the snow season, heavy snow falls on both sides of the approach. If you go straight down the approach while looking up at Mount Iwaki, you come to the vivid red tower gate. Walk through the gate and you reach the front shrine.
Shomon of Mountain Worship
Sitting straight on the tatami in the spacious shrine. That alone puts you in a tranquil state. We received words of worship. The 26 character phrase that is hanging in the corner catches the eye. It is the ”shomon” that monks chant as they worship at the mountain. Even the previously mentioned ”Mountain Worship” is a lively affair where worshippers chant and are accompanied by instruments like the flute and drums. We were treated to a special recitation. Listening to the chant, you could envision the many worshippers as they climbed from Iwakiyama Shrine to the Okumiya, chanting as they climbed.
We left the shrine and walked down the approach again. We took one last look at Mount Iwaki. There are green trees surrounding the torii. And further down, you can see the serene Mount Iwaki. It is a sacred scene that is in complete harmony with nature.
