Dewa-sanzan Climbing

Haguro-san, Gas-san, and Yudono-san are the three sacred mountains known as Dewa-sanzan. Over 1,400 years ago, the son of the reigning Emperor visited the mountains on a pilgrimage to engage in rigorous esthetic religious exercises that would eventually become the basis of Shugendo Buddhism.

There is a strong relationship between the natural environment of the mountains and the Yamabushi mountain priests' kind of Buddhism, an ancient blend of esoteric Buddhism, Chinese Taoism, and Shinto deity worship.

Among the various initiation rituals necessary to enter the ranks of the Yamabushi include meditation, trekking, wrestling, and food restriction. Typical Yamabushi attire includes:

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  A checked overshirt.

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  Loose-fitting white pants.

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  Straw sandals.

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  A short, pointed cap.

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Their conch-shell trumpets have a resonant pitch that resonates across great distances.

It is now possible to see a monk anywhere in Dewa-sanzan, whether hurrying up a mountain or visiting one of the numerous temples dotting the landscape. We recommend ascending either Mt. Haguro or Mt. Gas-san, which you can complete in under two hours if you're short on time. However, it's best to explore Dewa-sanzan over many days due to the difficulty of some climbs.