十和田八幡平国立公园的“守护神”

Praying at Osagoba towards Omuro (the inner sanctuary) is the true form of worship.

If you descend to the back right of Towada Shrine, you'll find stairs leading up to the summit of Shinsen-en Garden (see image on the left). Shinsen-en Garden, a plateau beyond, overlooks Lake Nakaumi and Omuro (inner sanctuary) on the Ogura Peninsula, where the gods reside. It's also the place where Nansonobo offered his prayers with all his heart. A small shrine dedicated to Nansonobo and Towada Seiryu Daigongensha Shrine are located here.

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At the water's edge of Lake Nakaumi, just below Shinsen-en Garden, is a sacred place where Nansonobo is said to have entered Nirvana and become Seiryu Gongen. This sacred place is also home to the Osagoba (fortune-telling area), where pilgrims can perform sangouchi (divination and prayer). Unfortunately, due to falling rocks and extreme danger even for adults, the area is currently closed to the public.

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Since the late Heian period, pilgrims have headed toward Mt. Ogura, the mountain where the gods reside, and performed sankyu (scattering offerings) while praying and facing the inner sanctuary, Omuro, where Nansonobo is enshrined. It is believed that the purpose of the pilgrimage (religion) was to pray to the Ogura Peninsula, the inner sanctuary where Towada Seiryu Daigongen/Nansonobo is enshrined.