Isehara: Oyama, Pilgrimage Traditions and Nature

Isehara brings together Oyama, pilgrimage traditions, mountain scenery and a tradition of woodworking that dates back to the Edo period. Different seasonal considerations come into play when planning your stay: the mountain trail can be hiked year-round, festivals take place at certain times of year, and fruit picking depends on the harvest. If you’re looking for a hotel in Isehara, you can start by deciding whether mountains, culture or a seasonal event will be the focus of your trip.

Oyama: Mountain Scenery and Views

At 1,252 m, Mount Oyama is a landmark of Isehara and lies within an area of the Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park. From the Lower Shrine of Ōyama Afuri Shrine, a mountain trail winds through native beech and fir forests to the summit. It can be hiked in any season. The Lower Shrine sits at an elevation of 696 m and offers views of Sagami Bay. At Oyama, you can enjoy both a trail through different types of forest and a viewpoint overlooking the bay.

Pilgrimage, Temples and Craftsmanship

The Oyama pilgrimage is registered as a Japan Heritage site for its cultural value. Oyama-dera is considered one of the three great Fudō temples of the Kantō region and is also the first temple on the pilgrimage route to the region’s 36 Fudō temples. The Shaka Nirvana statue at Chayu-ji is also designated an Important Cultural Property of Isehara City.

A distinctive architectural feature is the main hall of Hinata Yakushi, also known as Hōjōbō. It has a thatched hip roof, measures 7 ken in length and 5 ken in width, and stands 17.7 m tall. It is the largest of the wooden Buddha halls in the prefecture designated as cultural properties. Its roof shape, traditional measurements and height give this building a different character from the temples on Oyama.

The Oyama-koma is a signature souvenir of the Oyama pilgrimage. Woodworkers known as kiji-shi have made it since the Edo period, and the technique is still passed down today. Alongside its religious sites, a craft maintained across generations also forms part of Oyama’s cultural identity.

Festivals, Tofu and Seasonal Harvests

The E-tōrō Festival takes place every year from mid- to late August along the approach to Oyama. Picture lanterns handcrafted by local residents are set up on Oyama Shindō, illuminating the approach at night. The Isehara Tourism Dōkan Festival is held every October; exact dates and programs may change. If you’d like to include either festival in your plans, check the event dates and program.

Along the approach to Oyama, you can enjoy tofu dishes at inns and teahouses, prepared with tofu made using spring water from Oyama. During harvest season, there are also numerous direct-sale outlets along the national highways and popular fruit farms where visitors can pick their own fruit. Offerings and picking opportunities vary by harvest season. These experiences therefore differ from the festivals held every year: the timing depends on the season.

Getting There by Train

Isehara Station is served by Odakyu Line Romancecar limited express trains. From Isehara, Shinjuku is about 50 minutes away and Odawara about 25 minutes. The journey to Odawara is therefore roughly half as long as the journey to Shinjuku. Since travel times may change with the timetable, check current connections for your trip.

Discover More Destinations: Ogimachi, Iwa, Chigasaki, Atsugi, Kamakura, Hiratsuka, Yugawara, Hakone

For the broader travel overview: Kanagawa Prefecture.