Visited a Powerful Spiritual Spot in Aomori, Japan – Towada Shrine!
Lake Towada in Aomori is not only known as a scenic destination, but also as a spiritual and even haunted place.
Right along its shores sits Towada Shrine, believed to be a sacred power spot with mystical energy.
Along with Osorezan on the Shimokita Peninsula, this area was once a training ground for Shugendo (Japanese mountain asceticism), and it still exudes a mysterious spiritual atmosphere.
One key feature of the shrine is the “Uraba”, or Fortune Telling Spot.
From Towada Shrine, there’s a path about 150 meters into the forest leading to a cliff with an iron ladder.
The spot at the base is known as Uraba, and is said to be the location where a mythical monk named Nansobo entered the lake.
In ancient times, people would toss ritual paper into the lake—if it sank, the wish would come true. If it floated, the wish would not be granted.
Today, due to safety issues, the ladder is closed.
Instead, visitors can toss their paper offerings into the lake from the Gozengahama Beach, or even use bathtubs or sinks at home for fortune-telling rituals.
Trip Date: August 2023 – First Visit to Towada Shrine
Not a big “spiritual person,” but as soon as I stepped through the torii gate, I felt a noticeable change in the air—almost cooler, clearer.
It was peaceful and quietly powerful.
Towada Shrine is currently dedicated to Yamato Takeru, but in the past, it was deeply rooted in water deity worship in the Tohoku region.
After my prayers, I grabbed a local snack—miso-dipped rice sticks and refreshing Oirase Gorge cider. So good!
Trip Date: July 2024 – Return to the Power Spot
Back again at Towada Shrine, nestled by Lake Towada—which I personally believe is one of Aomori’s strongest power spots!
Once considered a twin sacred site alongside Osorezan, this area has a rich history of mountain asceticism and spiritual worship.
Although it now enshrines Yamato Takeru, it used to be a site of water deity worship before the Meiji separation of Buddhism and Shinto.
There’s something about passing through the torii gate—the air feels different, like the temperature drops a few degrees.
Maybe it’s the lakeside location, but the air really did feel clearer.
Confession time: while I was there, a large tour group was being noisy, and I got super annoyed…
I ended up praying with a bad mood—totally not the right energy! Really made me reflect.
Need to work on being more zen…
Although you can’t access the original Uraba area anymore due to safety concerns, the story still lives on.
Wishing for something? Throwing your prayer paper into the water may still bring results…
After visiting, I stopped for lunch at Towada Shokudo, where nearly everyone was ordering the same thing: Towada Barayaki—a local specialty made of beef ribs and onions cooked in a sweet soy-based sauce.
It was sizzling and packed with flavor!
Towada Shrine
