How to reach Mt. Gassan
To accomplish the Dewa Sanzan Pilgrimage the traditional way (visiting the world of Present: Mt. Haguro, then the world of the Past: Mt. Gassan, then the world of Future: Mt. Haguro), a pilgrim needs to go to Mt. Gassan from Mt. Haguro, but with the decreasing number of buses each year this can become a difficult task. In this article, we explain how to go from Mt. Haguro to Mt. Gassan regardless of weekends.
Reminder: Mt. Gassan’s official hiking season: July 1st to September 15th (Mt. Gassan is hikeable up until mid-October)
Option A: Reach Mt. Gassan from Mt. Haguro (the traditional pilgrim way)
1. First method: Use the bus service during weekends and national holidays
Shonai Kotsu, the local bus operator, runs a service from Tsuruoka Station to the 8th station of Mt. Gassan (Gassan hachigome 月山八合目, ) via the summit of Mt. Haguro (Haguro Sancho 羽黒山頂, price to Mt. Gassan from there: ¥1,590). However, due to ongoing driver shortages, the bus does not operate on weekdays. This route remains the most convenient way to travel directly from Mt. Haguro to Mt. Gassan, allowing visitors to complete the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage in its traditional order — the present at Haguro, the past at Gassan, and the future at Yudono without making reservations. Still, you need to plan your visit to Mt. Gassan during one of the bus’ operation dates (highlighted in yellow as below).
2. Use the “Shukubo taxi” services offered by the shukubo lodges in Mt. Haguro during weekdays and national holidays
To address the lack of transportation on days when the Shonai Kotsu bus is not in service, yamabushi priests and lodge owners have established a special taxi service for guests staying at shukubō lodges, hotels and ryokan participating in the project.
Price per person: 4000 yen if only 1 user, 2500 yen/person if more than 2 users
How to book a taxi?
- Book a night in one of the designated lodges (see below)
- Specify to your shukubo lodge by email on in person that you’d like to use the taxi BEFORE 4:30pm
- Specify your desired time of departure (7:30am or 3pm) and your time of return if needed (8:30am or 4pm)
List of lodges that are eligible to the taxi service plan
Yamabushi shukubo lodges in Mt. Haguro
- Kanbayashibo 神林坊 (Booking.com)
- Sanada Enmeiin 真田延命院 (Website in Japanese)
- Ikutabo 生田坊 (E-mail)
- Yorinbo 桜林坊 (Book through a travel agency)
- Sanzan Taiai Kyokai 三山大愛教会 (Book through a travel agency)
- Sankoin 三光院 (E-mail)
- Daishinbo 大進坊 (Booking.com) (Rurubu) (Website)
- Tamurabo 田村坊 (Rakuten travel) (Website)
- Daishobo 大聖坊 (Booking.com) (Website)
- Shunshobo 春照坊 (Book through a travel agency)
- Torinbo 東林坊 (Book through a travel agency)
- Okuibo 奥井坊 (Book through a travel agency)
- Miyatabo 宮田坊 (Reservation form)
- Otsukabo 檀所院大塚坊 (Book through a travel agency)
- Katsukibo 勝木坊 (Book through a travel agency)
- Yoseibo 養清坊 (Book through a travel agency) (Website in Japanese)
- Saikan 斎館 (Book through a travel agency)
Ryokan & hotels in Mt. Haguro
- Kyukamura Shonai Haguro 休暇村庄内羽黒 (Booking.com) (Website) (Google maps)
- Hagurokan 羽黒館 (Booking.com) (Website) (Google maps)
- Tamonkan 多聞館 (Booking.com) (Website) (Google maps)
Mountain huts on Mt. Gassan
- Gassan Chojo Goya (summit hut) 月山頂上小屋 (Book through a travel agency)
- Gassan Busshoike Goya (9th station) 月山佛生池小屋 (Book through a travel agency)
3. Use a private cab
This is the most flexible, yet expensive option. It takes around 45 minutes to reach Gassan’s eight station by car/taxi from the top of Mt. Haguro. It is a 18km long ride and is estimated to cost between 8000 and 12,000 yen depending on the taxi company.
Taxi companies:
- Shoko Hire (Book through a travel agency)
- Dewa Hire (Contact form)
- Tsuruoka taxi (Website in Japanese)
Option B: Reach Mt. Gassan from Mt. Yudono (reverse pilgrimage)
This option is especially suitable for those who reach Mt. Yudono on foot by following the Rokujurigoe Kaidō pilgrimage route from Tsuruoka City or Shizu Onsen. Along the way, pilgrims must climb several via ferratas leading up to Mt. Gassan, along a steep section known as Gakkō-zaka (月光坂, “Moonlight Slope”). The entire trekking route spans over 4 kilometers and typically takes around four hours to complete, depending on the hiker’s pace and physical condition. If started early in the morning from Yudonosan Sanrojo’s pilgrim lodge, it can allow you to grab the last bus from Gassan Hachigome (Mt. Gassan’s Eight station).
Hiking route (in reverse)
Option C : Reach Mt. Gassan from Shizu Onsen (long but easy course)
This option is most suited for people who booked a night in Shizu Onsen (Nishikawa Town) and want to use the Gassan pair lift (optional) to enjoy a smooth, easy hike to Mt. Gassan. It is around 8km long and takes 4 hours to accomplish.
Gassan pair lift fees: 600 yen
Hiking route (in reverse)
For safety reasons, we have chosen not to list other hiking routes that may be too long or too challenging for international travelers (no reservation option in English, no online communication method, etc). The options introduced above are the safest and most commonly used ways to reach Mt. Gassan from Tsuruoka City or Nishikawa Town.
We wish you a safe and meaningful journey through the sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan.
