Kinkasan

Introducing Kinkasan

Also known as Golden Mountain, Kinkasan is considered one of the three holiest places in Tōhoku, along with Dewa Sanzan and Osore-san. Its spiritual significance and the fact that it used to be a site for gold prospecting ensure a steady stream of visitors eager for some good fortune to rub off. It’s said that if you pay a visit three years running to Kinkasan’s impressive shrine, you can kiss your money worries goodbye for the rest of your life. Women were banned on Kinkasan until the late 19th century, but today, for both sexes, an overnight stay is ideal for those seeking tranquillity.

Along with its shrine, the island features the pyramid-shaped Mt Kinka (445m), a handful of houses around the dock, cheeky deer and monkeys, mostly untended trails, a few leeches and the odd snake. Most visitors to Kinkasan seem to be day-trippers, which means the island is delightfully deserted in the early morning and late afternoon.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009