Three Mountains of Dewa

Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono form a collection of peaks connected by mountain paths through dense forests of cedar trees.

The mountains became a religious center in 593 when Prince Hachiko established them as a sanctuary after fleeing from the Soga clan.

The mountains host annual pilgrimages where practitioners of Shugendo, a mountain-based religious tradition, perform rituals and ascetic exercises.

Mount Haguro remains accessible throughout the year, while Mount Gassan and Mount Yudono close during winter months due to heavy snowfall.

The five-story pagoda at Mount Haguro, built between 931 and 937, stands as a national treasure constructed with untreated wood and wooden tiles.

Location: Yamagata Prefecture

Elevation above the sea: 1,984 m

Website: https://nihonisan-dewasanzan.jp

GPS coordinates: 38.70028,140.00028

Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:29