Dewa Sanzan 出羽三山

In the ancient region of Dewa, now Yamagata Prefecture, rise three sacred mountains: Mount Gassan (1,984 meters), Mount Haguro (414 meters) and Mount Yudono (1,504 meters), known collectively as the Dewa sanzan.

Death and resurrection

The crossing of these three peaks during a pilgrimage, called sankan sando, represents death and rebirth. Each mount has a special meaning: Gassan symbolizes the past and the world of the dead, Haguro, prosperity in present life and Yudono, reincarnation, rebirth and the future.

Cedar forest

Pilgrims have been climbing these three mountains for nearly 1,500 years. In winter, the strong snow makes the Gassan and Yudono mountains inaccessible. Also, Sanjin Gosaiden temple, located on Mount Haguro, brings together the few pilgrims who occupy the places. It is possible to get there by car or bus, via a toll road.

However, it's recommended to opt for the traditional route, a walk following the ishidan, this trail consisting of 2,446 steps through the cedar forest. Especially since on the way, 33 carved characters bring prosperity to those who manage to find them all.

Hermits of the mountains

Dewa Sanzan is one of the Shugendo's lands of choice, a thousand-year-old spiritual tradition in Japan. Mixing Shintoism and Buddhism, it reveres the relation between the man and nature. Its followers, the Shugenja, seek the way of divine spiritual powers through asceticism.

Also called yamabushi, literally "those who sleep in the mountains", these hermits practice long solitary retreats where they carry out secret rites. They are easily recognized by their traditional dress, and through the forest we hear their horagai, a kind of shell that they blow into to signal their presence.

Discover another pilgrimage route : Visit Kumano and the Kii Peninsula