Mount Osore is considered one of three sacred gateways to the afterlife in Japan. Pilgrims visit to communicate with deceased loved ones through blind mediums called itako during summer festivals.

The barren, rocky terrain surrounding the temple resembles traditional Buddhist depictions of hell, making Osorezan one of the few places where you can physically walk through what looks like the underworld.

The temple sits on an active volcanic landscape where sulfur mists rise from the ground, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that Japanese Buddhists associate with the boundary between life and death.

Hot springs bubble up naturally around the temple grounds, and visitors can bathe in them after paying respects to the dead, a unique combination of spiritual practice and volcanic geography.