Dewa Sanzan Shrine

Yamagata

Cultural Immersion & Activities

Shrines & Temples

# Shrine

# Temple Lodging

# Hiking

# National Treasure

# Pilgrimage Route

The Sanjin Gosai-den main shrine on Mt. Haguro with its large thatched roof, seen across a reflective pond.

A shrine complex on a mountain summit above the clouds, with a winding stone path leading up to the buildings. (Likely Mt. Gassan Shrine or the Sanjin Gosaiden approach on Mt. Haguro).

A large red torii gate and a rest house at the foot of a mountain, covered in brilliant red and orange autumn foliage.

The long, steep stone stairway on Mt. Haguro surrounded by dense green forest and moss-covered ground.

A sacred cedar tree marked with a Shimenawa rope in the foreground, with the Five-Story Pagoda of Mt. Haguro visible through the trees.

Key Points

Dewa Sanzan is the collective name for the sacred site honoring three holy mountains: Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono
Iconic 2,446-step stone stairway through ancient cedar forest
Famous for the Mt. Haguro five-story pagoda, a National Treasure

Dewa Sanzan Shrine in Yamagata Prefecture venerates three sacred mountain peaks, collectively known as the three Dewa peaks (“Dewa sanzan”) – Haguro, Gassan, and Yudono – long central to the syncretic mountain religion of Shugendo (a mix of Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and mountain worship) in the area. Since Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono are inaccessible in winter, the deities representing all three mountains are enshrined together at Mt. Haguro’s summit.
Visitors can walk the ancient 2,446-step stone stairway through towering cedar trees to reach Mt. Haguro’s National Treasure, a graceful five-story pagoda. The shrine also offers immersive yamabushi (mountain ascetic) training and overnight stays at traditional temple lodgings, giving a glimpse into the spiritual practices that drew pilgrims here throughout the Edo period.

Information

Spot information including address, access, and website
Address	Touge-7 Haguromachi Touge, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata
Access from Tokyo	(1) From Tokyo Station, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station (approx. 1 hour 29 minutes). (2) From Niigata Station, transfer to the JR Inaho Line and take the train to Tsuruoka Station (approx. 1 hour 53 minutes). (3) At Tsuruoka Station, walk for approx. 2 minutes to the Tsuruoka Station bus stop. Then, take the Tsuruoka-Haguro Sancho Line Bus (bound for Haguro Sancho) and get off at Haguro Zuishinmon (approx. 36 minutes). Show route from Tokyo Station
Website	https://thedewasanzan.com/
Official SNS Accounts