[2025 Tsuruoka Attraction] Travel Guide for Dewasanzan Shrine (Updated Apr)

During the snowy season, explore the sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan in Yamagata Prefecture, Tohoku, Japan: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. These mountains symbolize blessings for the present, past, and future, making them renowned pilgrimage sites. The route spans 1.7 kilometers and takes about an hour one way. Starting from the Suijin Gate, the snow-covered surroundings create a pure and dreamlike atmosphere. Crossing the vermilion Sacred Bridge, you'll encounter towering cedar trees and the National Treasure Five-Story Pagoda, followed by the 2,446-step stone stairway divided into three sections. If you feel tired climbing the steps, you can take a break at a teahouse near the second section. After a bit more climbing and passing through a torii gate, you'll reach the summit, where the Dewa Sanzan Shrine awaits. Despite the challenges of walking in the snow, the breathtaking scenery makes it all worthwhile.

Located at the center of the summit of Mt. Haguro, the Sanjin Gosaiden is where the three mountain gods of Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono are enshrined. The unique landscape of the temple in the vast mountains around it is the architecture arranged according to the natural terrain. The current shrine was rebuilt in 1818 during the Edo period. This is a precious thatched wooden structure that retains its medieval history, such as the long floorboards where yamabushi (ascetics) lived. It was designated as an important cultural property in 2001. #2024TravelReview

I went to Dewa Sanzan Shrine in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. There are a whopping 2,446 steps. It's a true Shugendo, and I walked alone in silence the whole way. There are three mountains in the Tsuruoka area: Gassan, Haguro, and Yudono, each of which is enshrined as a deity that governs the past, future, and present. Dewa Sanzan Shrine is a great spot for those who don't have much time or can't climb mountains in winter, as you can visit all three mountains by just climbing this one. (Sorry for the vulgar way of putting it.) The grounds had a sacred atmosphere and were truly a power spot! I want to go again! #besttrip2023

We had shojin ryori at Mt. Haguro😆🥢 Saitama is located a little 🤏 down from the summit. It is surrounded by trees and has an atmosphere like being in another world. Time even feels calm✨ You need to make a reservation in advance for shojin ryori🙌 You can choose between 7 or 10 dishes❗️ Of course, I chose 10 dishes😉 Shojin ryori is a meal given to those who are devoted to Buddhism. The ingredients are made from things that grow naturally on the mountain. You can literally take in the power of Mt. Haguro directly. Especially for me, who is not a vegetarian. I love wine🍷meat🥩cheese🧀, so at first glance👀the shojin ryori seems a little lacking. But I was surprised at the variety of dishes‼ ️ It's so good that I can't decide which one to eat 😅 When I actually tried it, I felt full gradually, and it continued into the evening, so I didn't feel hungry. I didn't even need to eat much at night. A different meal in a different place than usual 🥢 It was a good experience 🎶 ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥLocation: Mt. Haguro ⛰ Saikan ꕥAddress: 7 Temukai, Temukai, Haguro-cho, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata ꕥAccess 🚌 S-Mall Bus Terminal →🚏 Mt. Haguro Summit →🚶♀️About 5 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #besttrip2023 #Shrines and Temples #Shrines Tour #Yamagata Tourism #Gourmet

The five-story pagoda on Mt. Haguro. I had heard about it beforehand, but it's sad to see it covered up like that 😢 It seems that construction 👷♂️ will continue until around spring 2025. It is now open for worship! I wasn't able to see the five-story pagoda, but you can peek in and see a little bit. Tenchi Kinjin Shrine ⛩ is located next to the red mountain gate's Zuishinmon Gate. Founded in 1397. Rebuilt in 1779. The statue of Gensan Daishi was enshrined as the Daishi Hall. It is now a sub-shrine of Dewa Sanzan Shrine, and enshrines Susanoo no Mikoto. The ascending and descending dragons wrapped around the pillars were impressive. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Mt. Haguro ⛰ Dewa Sanzan Shrine ꕥAddress: 7, Temuka, Haguro-cho, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata ꕥAccess 🚌 S-Mall Bus Terminal →🚏 Summit of Mt. Haguro →🚶♀️ 3-minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #besttrip2023 #Shrines and temples #Shrine tour #Yamagata sightseeing #Mt. Haguro

Mt. Haguro is one of the Dewa Sanzan mountains. There are 108 shrines within the grounds of the Dewa Sanzan mountains. You can see shrines here and there along the 2,446-step approach to the mountain😊 At the summit, you can receive three types of shrine seals in addition to the one for Mt. Haguro. The summit is also quite spacious, and you can see many unique shrines! It's a very worthwhile experience. Personally, I thought the sculptures at Itsukushima Shrine⛩ were intricate and wonderful👏😉 ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Mt. Haguro⛰ Dewa Sanzan Shrine ꕥAddress: 7, Temuka, Haguro-cho, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata ꕥAccess 🚌S Mall Bus Terminal →🚏Mt. Haguro summit →🚶♀️About 3 minutes walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #besttrip2023 #Shrines and temples #Shrine tour #Yamagata sightseeing #Solo travel

Mt. Haguro is one of the three mountains of Dewa. Here, there is something called "Stone Step Pilgrimage"! First, about the stone steps. From Oonaohichi Shrine at the bottom of Ichinozaka to Hachiman Shrine at the top. The distance is 1.2km🚶♀️ It was built by Tenyu Betto over 13 years with donations from pilgrims and believers, and as compensation for those who violated the rules on the mountain. There are 2,446 stone steps🪨😅 When going up and down these stone steps, there is a custom of hanging a shimenawa on your back to avoid being possessed by evil spirits in the mountains‼ ️ After finishing your worship at Mt. Haguro⛰, it is customary to remove the shimenawa in front of the bridge over the Haraigawa River on the way down, hang it on a cherry tree at the base, and return to the earthly world. However, you are free to take the shimenawa home as a souvenir🙆♀️ There is also something called an enhimo, which you can choose from five different colors to tie to the shimenawa. If you visit Mt. Haguro, why not follow this custom and pay your respects?❣️ This was apparently planned as a way to experience reincarnation. ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Mt. Haguro ⛰ Dewa Sanzan Shrine ꕥAddress: 7, Temuka, Haguro-cho, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata ꕥAccess 🚌 S-Mall Bus Terminal →🚏 Summit of Mt. Haguro →🚶♀️ 3-minute walk ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #besttrip2023 #shrines and temples #shrine tours #Yamagata sightseeing #solo travel

Dewa Sanzan is one of Japan's most sacred places. One of them is Mount Haguro. Even in the deep snow of Yamagata Prefecture, this shrine can be visited all year round. Gassan and Yudonosan are closed in winter, so during that time you can visit this shrine, which is enshrined there! It may seem difficult to visit until you get here, but it's actually quite easy. If you're not sure how to get there, you can take a bus from Tsuruoka to the summit. After all, if you start from the bottom, you have to climb 2,446 steps. Due to time constraints, I decided to go from Gassan to the summit and then go down. (Next time, I'll definitely go from the bottom 😤) The Sanshin Gassaiden shrine has a majestic presence that I felt was different from any I've seen before ✨ It's 28m high, with a thatched roof 2.1m thick The scale is just different 🥹 It's definitely a place you'd want to visit at least once in your life. Kagami Pond in front of the shrine 🪞 There is a culture of worshiping the shrine reflected here, and the enshrined deity, Haguro-no-kami, is said to be the Kuzuryu-o. The Kuzuryu-o is the god of water, and there was a belief that the blessings of water and the mechanism of rain were caused by the enshrined deity 🙌 The stone monuments depicting the mechanism of rain, the ascending dragon and the descending dragon 🐉 This is a place that I would like you to see from here ☺️ It was a wonderful view 💕 ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ꕥShrine name: Mt. Haguro ⛰ Dewa Sanzan Shrine ꕥAddress: 7 Temuka, Temuka, Haguro-cho, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata ꕥAccess 🚌S Mall Bus Terminal →🚏Mt. Haguro Summit →🚶♀️Walk About 3 minutes ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ #besttrip2023 #Dewasanzan #Mt. Haguro #Shrines and Temples #Shrines Tour #Yamagata Tourism