Mt. Omine

Mount Omine is the spiritual heart of Shugendo, a Japanese ascetic tradition blending Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoism. The Ominesanji temple at 1,719 meters is famously one of the last places in Japan restricting women from entering, a tradition held for over 1,300 years. The Omine-Okugake trail extends as a multi-day pilgrimage from Mount Yoshino all the way to the Kumano grand shrines, crossing some of the most remote mountain terrain in Kansai. Trails are best attempted May through October. The physical challenge, deep solitude, and layered spiritual history make this one of Japan's most serious mountain pilgrimages.