Mount Haguro – Yamagata

2025-09-11

Located in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, Mount Haguro is one of the sacred Three Mountains of Dewa (Dewa Sanzan), along with Mount Gassan and Mount Yudono. These three peaks are important centers of Shugendō, a syncretic religion combining mountain worship, Shinto, and Buddhism. Among them, Mount Haguro is the most accessible year-round and serves as the spiritual gateway to the other two peaks.

Why Visit Mount Haguro?

Explore one of Japan’s most important centers of mountain worship
Experience a serene pilgrimage path lined with 2,446 stone steps

Visit the famous Five-Story Pagoda (Goju-no-to), a national treasure hidden among towering cedars
Discover the Sanctuary of Haguro Shrine, dedicated to the deities of all three sacred mountains

Highlights

Cedar-Lined Pilgrimage Path
A mystical stone stairway stretching nearly 2 kilometers through a forest of 600-year-old cedar trees, offering both natural beauty and spiritual atmosphere.

Five-Story Pagoda (Goju-no-to)
Standing gracefully in the forest, this wooden pagoda dates back to the Heian period and is a symbol of Mount Haguro’s sacred heritage.
Hagurosan Sanjin Gosaiden
The main shrine on Mount Haguro enshrines the deities of all three Dewa Mountains, making it the most important spiritual site in the area.
Shukubō Lodging
Traditional temple lodgings around Haguro offer pilgrims and travelers the chance to stay overnight, experience shōjin ryōri (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and join in morning prayers.
Seasonal Beauty
Mount Haguro is stunning year-round—lush green in summer, brilliant with autumn colors, and deeply atmospheric in snow.

Access

By Bus: About 50 minutes from Tsuruoka Station to the base of Mount Haguro.
By Car: Around 20 minutes from central Tsuruoka City.

Why Mount Haguro Is Special

Mount Haguro offers not only breathtaking natural beauty but also a deep sense of spirituality and history. As the most approachable of the Three Sacred Mountains of Dewa, it provides a unique opportunity to experience pilgrimage culture, traditional mountain worship, and Japan’s harmonious connection with nature.

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