The Dewa Sanzan is the collective name given to The Three Sacred Mountains of Dewa, encompassing the three peaks of Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono. These mountains have served as a major pilgrimage site for practitioners of the religion of Shugendo, a syncretic faith of ancient mountain worship, Shinto, Taoism, and esoteric Buddhist beliefs for over 1,400 years.

To this day, practitioners of Shugendo known as Yamabushi 山伏 continue to uphold and protect the sacred traditions of the mountains and invite both practitioners and visitors alike to experience the beauty of the Dewa Sanzan.

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Located in Yamagata Prefecture, the Dewa Sanzan are accessible by domestic flights, train, bus, and private vehicle. See below for information on how to access each of these mountains as well as some of the tours and experiences that can be had during your visit.

The Yamabushi of the Dewa Sanzan are welcoming of travelers interested in experiencing many of their rituals and traditions through a variety of special spiritual programs. We ask that visitors be open-minded and respectful of their traditions and to follow the lead of the Yamabushi and local guides. Learn more about the various Yamabushi experiences provided by the Dewa Sanzan Shrine and local tour operators of Yamagata.

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Visitors are more than welcome to discover the Dewa Sanzan Yamabushi culture and hike the holy trails. We kindly remind travelers that the Dewa Sanzan is a sacred place and part of the Bandai-Asahi National Park. Please follow the pilgrim etiquette when present on site: do not litter, do not damage property, do not collect plants unless a guide authorizes you, do not be loud near the religious edifices, and do not take pictures of forbidden sites.

The Dewa Sanzan Shrine encourages travelers to learn about the culture and spirituality of these mountains through a Yamabushi guide to support the local community.