Why you should visit Oyama
21.07.2023 - 08:12
/ roughguides.com
In the forested foothills of the Tanzawa area in Japan, Oyama is a village of hilltop Shinto shrines, ancient Buddhist temples and unforgettable mountain trails. The perfect jumping-off point for hikes in the Tanzawa area, Oyama’s soaring viewpoints and temples are also easily accessible for those who are less mobile, thanks to the Oyama Cable Car. The historic ryokan inns offer plenty of opportunities for relaxation after your adventures in the great outdoors, while no visit is complete without tucking into Oyama tofu, the local delicacy.
Thanks to the Odakyu Electric Railway line between Shinjuku, Tokyo and nearby Isehara Station, you can reach Oyama from the capital in around 1.5 hours, meaning it’s perfectly possible to visit on a day trip. Odakyu’s Tanzawa-Oyama Freepass is designed for just this purpose, and includes a round trip from Shinjuku, Tokyo and unlimited bus, train and cable-car travel within the Oyama area.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, travel is still on hold for many of us around the globe. Your safety is of primary importance to us, so be sure to check travel restrictions at home and in Japan before planning a trip.
Oyama's cable car © Odakyu Group
Shinto is the most ancient and popular form of Japanese folk religion, and is practised – often in conjunction with Buddhism – by much of the population. Shinto is an animist religion, meaning it is centred on the worship of nature spirits, known as kami. Fittingly for a settlement in the foothills of Japan’s most famous mountain, Oyama-Afuri Shrine is dedicated to the worship of a deity known as the Father of Mount Fuji. Other kami worshipped here are associated with rainfall, and farmers often come here to pray for rain.
Oyama-Afuri Shrine © Kunihiko Meguro
The Oyama-Afuri Shrine sits high on Mount Oyama, which has long been held in esteem as a sacred mountain. Hiking the mountain’s trails, past primeval trees with their roots bursting from the earth, is an atmospheric and rewarding way to get to the shrine. From Oyama Cable, the nearest bus stop to Mount Oyama, it takes around an hour to reach Oyama-Afuri Shrine, but remember to bring hiking boots and some comfortable clothes to climb the mountain in, as the paths can be loose and slippery, especially after rain. Happily, there’s another, much easier way to reach Oyama-Afuri Shrine, thanks to the Oyama Cable Car. From Oyama Cable Station, next to the Suzu River in town, the cable car whisks you up to the lower buildings of the Oyama-Afuri Shrine in around six minutes.
View from Sekison teahouse at Oyama-Afuri Shrine © Kunihiko Meguro
Another historic religious building you can visit on the slopes of Mount Oyama is the Buddhist Oyama-dera Temple. The stairs leading up to this