Dewa Sanzan Shrine, located in Haguro, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, is a sacred site dedicated to Shugendō mountain asceticism with over 1,400 years of history centered around Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono. These peaks have long served as a training ground for yamabushi (mountain priests), who pursue spiritual enlightenment through austere mountain practices.

The five-story pagoda on the path to Mt. Haguro, the oldest national treasure in Tohoku, stands beautifully amid the snowy landscape, captivating many visitors.

Pilgrimage to Dewa Sanzan symbolizes “rebirth,” attracting worshippers from across Japan since the Edo period as the “Eastern Pilgrimage” counterpart to the “Western Ise Pilgrimage.” Today, it continues to draw visitors from both Japan and abroad.

Getting there: About 10 minutes on foot from Zuishinmon Gate of Mt. Haguro to the national treasure five-story pagoda. Note that access may be limited during heavy snow periods.

Photographed: Late February 2021, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Temperature: -2°C (28.4°F)

Text/Kenji Sakamoto
Photo/Kenji Sakamoto