Author: Tim Bunting
-
Tsuruoka City: Home of Haguro-san of Dewa Sanzan
Sitting in a Japanese castle at the turn of the 18th century, what catches your eye most? Is it the soft light hitting the cherry blossoms as they flutter in the wind? The stone grey of the castle contrasting against the black and white wall? The castle’s crest meticulously carved into the tiled roof? The…
-
Saikan: Shrine Lodging on Mt. Haguro
Meticulously placed stones line the path off Haguro-san‘s stone stairway that leads up to the ancient entrance of an enchanting place, Saikan. Saikan is a former temple that provided generations of Yamabushi mountain monks all they needed for training; altars for rituals, Shojin Ryori (Ascetic Cuisine), Shiroshozoku garments for purification, and of course, lodging. These…
-
The Shoreisai Festival on Mt. Haguro
What better way to welcome in the new year than with the symbolic burning of an evil demon to a crisp? Well, the annihilation of a demon twice is all but one small part of the much larger Shoreisai festival that starts with the most gruelling of Yamabushi rituals on the Dewa Sanzan, the Fuyunomine Winter…
-
Hassaku Festival on Mt. Haguro
Cicadas blearing, rice fields of bright green leaves, fireworks on show, it’s summer in Japan and that means one thing; festivals. When the weather heats up, communities gather outside at night under the lanterns and let the sake flow. Traditionally, festivals in Japan are a celebration of successful farming, when communities show their appreciation to…
-
The Dewa Sanzan Hanamatsuri Flower Festival
Put simply, the warmer months are an excellent time to visit the Dewa Sanzan, and not just for the Dewa Sanzan Flower Festival. Not only did Matsuo Basho visit the Dewa Sanzan during this time, but Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono are open for hiking, the Mt. Haguro Five Storied Pagoda Light Up is on, and…
-
Your First Dewa Sanzan Pilgrimage Program
Experience Shukubo Lodging and Walk Mt. Haguro with Yamabushi
-
Trainings on the Dewa Sanzan mountains
Looking for the best retreats in Japan? Looking for the opportunity to discover yourself in centuries-old experiences unique to this country? Or simply looking for the perfect escape deep in the mountains? Look no further than the Dewa Sanzan, the three sacred mountains of Dewa here in Yamagata Prefecture. Located right in the centre of…
-
Conservation efforts on the Dewa Sanzan
Haguro-san (Mt. Haguro) is synonymous with its cedar forest, so much so that the forest was awarded status as a Japanese Special Natural National Treasure, one of only two such forests in Japan, and three stars on the Michelin Green Guide Japan, meaning it is worth going out of your way to visit. Many of…
-
Japan’s Spiritual Powerhouse: Dewa Sanzan
Take a step through the Zuishinmon gates and into the cedar forests of Mt. Haguro and you will instantly be whisked into another world, the world of the Dewa Sanzan. Located in the middle of Yamagata Prefecture, the Dewa Sanzan is the collective name for the three sacred mountains of the former Dewa Province: Mt.…
-
Why You Simply Must Try Dewa Sanzan Shojin Ryori
Why You Simply Must Try Dewa Sanzan Shojin Ryori If you’ve paid a visit to a Zen temple in Japan before, chances are you would have tried Shojin Ryori. Known for its almost exclusive use of local vegetables, zero waste policy, and unprecedented impact on Japanese cuisine, Shojin Ryori spread throughout Japan along with the…