A mountain of mountain faith centred on Shugendo

#springwander A mountain with an altitude of 414 metres located northwest of Mt. Tsuki, the main peak of the Three Mountains of Dewa. A few minutes on the mountain road from the Suijinmon gate where the bus stop is located, a 29-metre-high five-story pagoda stands tall as if it blends in with the cedar tree. It is said that it was founded by Taira Masakado in the year of Tenkei (938), and it is one of the few Buddhist buildings that remain in Mt. Haguro, which was in the form of a combination of Shinto and Buddhism. It was designated as a national treasure in 1966. There are a whopping 2,446 stone steps from the five-storied pagoda to the top of the mountain. There are difficulties along the way, so I want to be careful when choosing shoes. When you reach the top of the mountain, the Sanjinai Festival Hall, which has one of the largest thatched roofs in Japan, is enshrined. The current Goseiden was built in Bunsei (1818) with a large amount of money of 5,275 ryo (more than 500 million yen in modern times). It is characterised by a bright vermilion-coloured shrine, and fine carvings are applied everywhere. On the way back, you can also use a bus to and from the top of the mountain.