Japan Heritage story
Mt Mitoku and Misasa Onsen: cleanse on the cliff, heal in the spring
六根清浄と六感治癒の地
On Mt Mitoku in Tottori, a temple hall clings to a sheer cliff, reached by the most dangerous National Treasure visit in Japan. Pilgrims purify themselves on the climb, then heal body and mind in the hot springs of Misasa.
Key facts
- Theme
- Sea and waterside, Forests and timber, Festivals and rituals
- Era
- Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, Azuchi-Momoyama, Meiji
- Region
- Chugoku
- Official name in Japanese
- 六根清浄と六感治癒の地
- Official subtitle in Japanese
- ～日本一危ない国宝鑑賞と世界屈指のラドン泉～
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 鳥取県（三朝町）
The story
Legend says the mountain monk En no Ozunu threw three lotus petals into the sky, asking them to fall where the gods and buddhas dwelled. One landed on Mt Mitoku, and for 1,300 years it has been a training ground for mountain ascetics. Sanbutsuji temple grew around it, and high on the cliff stands Nageiredo, a hall that seems to have been thrown into the rock face. It is a National Treasure.
Pilgrims first bathed at Misasa Onsen below. Its source, the story goes, was revealed about 850 years ago after a traveller spared an old white wolf. The idea is simple: purify the six roots (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind) on the mountain, then heal the six senses in the hot water.
The climb to Nageiredo
- You must go in a group of two or more. Solo climbers are not allowed.
- Staff check your clothes and shoes at the entrance. Trainers may be refused; plain hiking shoes are safest, and straw sandals can be hired.
- Entry is from 8:00 to 15:00, and you must be down by 16:30.
- The trail usually closes from about December to March because of snow, and on days of rain or danger.
Plan the rest of your trip with the Tottori prefecture guide, or see more hot springs.
Good to know
- Stay a night in Misasa, bathe in the evening and climb early the next morning, as pilgrims did.
- Keep both hands free on the trail: parts are scrambles over roots and rock.
- Check the temple's website on the day: it posts whether the climb is open.
Questions travellers ask
Can I climb to Nageiredo alone?
No. The temple only lets people climb in groups of two or more, and checks clothes and shoes first.
Why is Misasa Onsen linked to Mt Mitoku?
It was the place where pilgrims purified themselves before the climb and recovered afterwards, a link that goes back about 850 years.
Where it comes from
More heritage stories from the same area
Local foods from the same area
Crafts from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.