January 1st | Saitansai | 歳旦祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall (Dewa Sanzan Shrine, Mt. Haguro) | Marks the New Year. |
January 3rd | Genshisai | 元始祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Prayers for peace and prosperity in the New Year. |
January 11th | Chonahajimesai | 釿始祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Blessing for the New Year. |
February 11th | Kigensai | 紀元祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Celebrates the enthronement of Emperor Jimmu on the anniversary of Japan’s founding. |
February 23rd | Tenchosai | 天長祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Celebrates the Emperor’s birthday, praying for His Majesty’s long life and national prosperity. |
Mid-April | Kangakusai | 勧学祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Prayers for academic success and good health. |
April 29th | Showasai | 昭和祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Honors the virtues and legacy of Emperor Shōwa. |
May 8th | Toshigonomatsuri | 祈年祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Spring cultivation festival, praying for an abundant harvest. |
Late May | Kensenden Otauematsuri Saiko | 献饌田御田植祭斎行 | Mt. Haguro’s Otorii | Rice planting festival where prayers are offered for a bountiful harvest. |
May 17th | Toshoshasai | 東照社祭 | Mt. Haguro’s Toshosha | Commemorates Betto Ten’yu’s reforms on Mt. Haguro. |
June 1st | Yudonosan Jinja Hongu Kaizansai | 湯殿山神社本宮開山祭 | Yudonosan-jinja Shrine (Mt. Yudono) | Official opening of Mt. Yudono’s season. |
June 30th | Oharaishiki | 大祓式 | Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan & Mt. Yudono | Cleansing rituals. |
July 1st | Gassan-jinja Hongu Kaizansai | 月山神社本宮開山祭 | Gassan-jinja Shrine (Mt. Gassan) | Official opening of Mt. Gassan’s season. |
July 15th | Hanamatsuri | 花祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Celebrates rice flowering. Pilgrims compete to snatch handmade flowers, which symbolize divine blessings and a fruitful harvest. |
August 13th | Gassan-jinja Hongu Saitosai | 月山神社本宮柴燈祭 | Gassan-jinja Shrine | Ritual goma fires are lit to welcome the spirits of the deceased. |
August 14th | Gassan Jinja Hongusai | 月山神社本宮祭 | Gassan-jinja Shrine | Prayers for ancestral spirits, safety, and an abundant harvest. |
August 15th | Yudonosan-jinja Hongusai | 湯殿山神社本宮祭 | Yudonosan-jinja Shrine | Prayers for pilgrims’ safety, well-being, and household protection. |
August 26th – September 1st | Akinomine-iri | 秋の峰入 | Secret location (details disclosed only to participants). | Yamabushi training (details disclosed only to participants). |
August 31st | Hachiko-jinjasai | 蜂子神社祭 | Hachiko-jinja Shrine (Mt. Haguro) | Commemorates Prince Hachiko, founder of the Dewa Sanzan. |
August 31st – September 1st | Hassakusai | 八朔祭 | Hachiko-jinja Shrine | Ritual goma fires for household safety and a bountiful harvest. |
September 1st | Denmensai | 田面祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Prayers for a bountiful harvest. |
September 6th – 10th | Mikoshugyo | 神子修行 | Secret location (details disclosed only to participants) | Yamabushi training (details disclosed only to participants). |
September 15th | Gassan-jinja Hongu Heizansai | 月山神社本宮閉山祭 | Gassan-jinja Shrine | Closing of Gassan-jinja Shrine and the official Mt. Gassan climbing season. |
September 15th | Keirosai | 敬老祭 | Gassan-jinja Shrine | Respect for the Aged Day. |
Late September | Haiku Taikai | 俳句大会 | Mt. Haguro | Celebration of Haiku poetry. |
September 24th | Heitatesai | 幣立祭 | Saikan (Mt. Haguro) | Marks the beginning of Winter Peak training, where two Matsuhijiri (Chosen Ones) embark on a 100-day ascetic practice. |
October 1st | Tsutsugayusai | 筒粥祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Ritual divination of the year’s crops, weather, and wind patterns. |
October 10th | Yudonosan Issanbanrei Kuyosai | 湯殿山一山万霊供養祭 | Yudonosan Senninzawa | Prayers for ancestral spirits. |
October 15th | Dewa Sanzan-jinja Sukeiko Taisai | 出羽三山神社崇敬講社大祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Celebration of the mountain deities. |
October 17th | Kannamehoshukusai | 神嘗奉祝祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Offer newly harvested rice to the gods as gratitude for life’s blessings. |
October 24th | Ten’yushasai | 天宥社祭 | Ten’yusha Shrine (Mt. Haguro) | Commemorates Betto Ten’yu. |
November 1st | Yudonosan-jinja Hongu Heizansai | 湯殿山神社本宮閉山祭 | Yudonosan-jinja Shrine | Official closing of Mt. Yudono’s season. |
November 3rd | Meijisai | 明治祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Honors Emperor Meiji, praying for national prosperity and peace. |
November 23rd | Niinamesai | 新嘗祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Gratitude for the harvest, offering newly harvested rice while praying for future abundance. |
December 31st | Oharaishiki | 大祓式 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Cleansing of sins, worries, and negative influences. |
December 31st – January 1st | Shoreisai | 松例祭 | Sanjingosaiden Prayer Hall | Culmination of the Winter Peak, a major event in the Haguro Shugendō tradition, with an all-night ritual. |