A Spiritual Encounter with the Sokushinbutsu (Self-Mummified Monks) and in-depth exploration into Japan's ancient ancestor worship custom

Overview

Step into the sacred heart of Japan’s mountains. Here, prayer, nature, and ancestral memory come together. You will be guided by yamabushi, mountain monks with over 1,400 years of walking these peaks in the ways of Shugendo, a unique blend of Shinto and Buddhism. You will also come face to face with the Sokushinbutsu, Japan's self-mummified monks.

This program is special. Not everyone gets to see the sokushinbutsu, Japan’s self-mummified monks, so intimately. You will learn their story and the deep beliefs behind their path, which centers on rebirth, remembrance, and peace for all beings. The yamabushi will guide you through special rituals and prayers that honor both life and the ancestors.

You will walk ancient paths on Mt. Haguro and Mt. Yudono, join in ceremonies of renewal, and experience how Japanese culture finds meaning in honoring the past and embracing the cycle of life. This is a rare chance to witness a spiritual world that few outsiders ever see.

What you will do

Experience the sacred mountains of Japan, where prayer, tradition, and nature meet. Over two days, you will:
• Stay at a 300-year-old pilgrim lodge and meet your yamabushi guide.
• Wear traditional pilgrimage clothes and learn the meaning of “Uketamou,” the spirit of acceptance.
• Climb the ancient stone steps of Mt. Haguro among tall cedar trees.
• Join prayers and ancestral rites at historic shrines and temples.
• Visit the sokushinbutsu, self-mummified monks, at Dainichibo Temple and hear their stories.
• Learn the profound reason why Japanese people take ancestor worship so seriously
• Travel to Mt. Yudono Shrine for final prayers and sacred rites.
• Reflect quietly, connect with others, and feel the spirit of Japan’s mountains.
Guided by experienced yamabushi, you’ll gain deep insight into mountain ascetic culture.

Who Should Join

• Those wishing to visit both Mt. Haguro and Mt. Yudono, and experience their history and culture
• Anyone seeking to deeply feel the meaning of prayer and ancestral memorial rites
• Individuals interested in Japan’s unique spiritual culture, including sokushinbutsu and mountain worship
• Those who want to deepen their understanding of traditional Japanese culture

Meet the Yamabushi Guide

Choenbo Pilgrim Lodge – 19th Generation Proprietor: Hirohito Kanbayashi

As the 19th-generation head of Choenbo, a shukubo pilgrim lodge in the Toge district of Haguro, Kanbayashi established the Sanzan Daiai Kyokai to revive the syncretic practices of yamabushi lost after the Meiji-era separation of Shinto and Buddhism. Following the original yamabushi teachings, which see Kami and Buddha as one, Choenbo uniquely combines prayers for the living and memorial rites for the deceased.

Schedule / Itinerary

Day One: Haguro-san

Time	Activity
13:15	Arrival & Check-in at Choenbo (Shuttles service available from Shonai Airport (11:40) and Tsuruoka Station (12:42))
14:00	Mt. Haguro pilgrimage experience
16:00	Prayer at Sanjin Gosaiden, Memorial Rite at Reisai-den
19:00	Dinner (Shojin Ryori – Buddhist Cuisine) & Fellowship
20:30	Free time
22:00	Lights out

Day Two: Kotaku-ji Temple and Yudono-san

Time	Activity
7:00	Morning Prayer & Memorial Rite
7:40	Breakfast (Shojin Ryori)
8:40	Check-out
9:05	Visit to Kotaku-ji Temple, Mt. Haguro
10:30	Transfer to Dainichibo, Visit and View Sokushinbutsu
11:50	Arrive at Senninzawa, Mt. Yudono
12:00	Lunch at Mt. Yudono Pilgrimage Center
13:00	Mt. Yudono Pilgrimage, Prayer & Memorial Rite
14:30	Closing at Mt. Yudono Pilgrimage Lodge
15:00	Departure & Dismissal Shuttle service: Tsuruoka Station (15:50), Shonai Airport (16:30), or return to Choenbo (17:10)

What’s Included

• Standard accommodation in shared rooms for 3–4 people (no mixed-gender rooms for those unacquainted). Part of the program is that you stay with the other participants, however if necessary private rooms are available for an additional 3,000 JPY.
• Yamabushi guide
  Interpretation into English
• Meals as per schedule (Day 1 dinner, Day 2 breakfast and lunch)
• All transport throughout the program. This includes free transfers to and from Tsuruoka Station or Shonai Airport before and after the program if required.
• Prayer, temple/shrine seal (goshuin), and ofuda (amulet) fees at each site
• Traditional pilgrimage attire (white gyoi jacket and paper shime necklace), yours to keep
• National travel insurance
• Travel costs to/from Tsuruoka are at the participant’s expense.

What to Bring / Preparation

• Hat
• Comfortable walking shoes (sneakers)
• Rainwear (program runs rain or shine)
• Backpack or shoulder bag (keep hands free during mountain walks)
• Small coins for shrine offerings
• Handkerchief / Towel
• Drink
• Bath towels, face towels, toothbrush, and yukata (sleepwear) are provided at the accommodation.　

Participation Fee

165,000 JPY (tax excluded)

Standard rooms are shared (3-4 people, same gender only). For a private room, an additional 3,000 JPY is required.

Capacity

20 participants (minimum 4 participants required)

Dates

Thursday, September 25 to Friday September 26, 2025

Application Deadline

One month before each session, or until capacity is reached.

Important Notes

• Participants must be 20 years or older and in good health.
• This program is focused on authentic pilgrim lodge and yamabushi experiences, not standard sightseeing. Please read all guidelines carefully before applying.
• The itinerary includes climbing Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono. No refunds will be given if you are unable to complete any climb.
• Outdoor activities may be canceled in case of typhoons or severe weather warnings. The program may change at short notice for safety reasons.
• Wear comfortable, temperature-appropriate, and modest attire suitable for pilgrimage.
• Please indicate any food allergies on the application form.
• Photos taken during the program may be used on our website or social media. If you do not consent, please indicate so on the application form or inform staff.
• Media coverage may occur during the program.

Meeting and Ending

The meeting location is Choenbo Pilgrim Lodge.

Choenbo Shukubo (Sanzan Daiai Kyokai)
93 Toge, Haguro-machi, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata 997-0211

Google Map

Please be sure to check in by 13:15 on September 25.

The experience will finish around 15:00 on September 26 at Yudono-san Pilgrim Lodge. You can then take a shuttle to Tsuruoka Station arriving at 15:50, one arriving at Shonai Airport at 16:30, or return to Choenbo at 17:10.

Send us an inquiry using the form below to apply or for more details.

Program Planning, Operation, and Implementation

• Megurun Co., Ltd.
  120-2 Kanekoji, Yabuchi, Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata 997-0855
  Travel Supervisor: Keiko Kato
  Yamagata Prefecture Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 282

This trip is planned and operated by Megurun Co., Ltd. Participants enter into a group travel contract with the company. Terms and conditions are based on this advertisement, the travel conditions document, the final itinerary provided before departure, and the company’s standard travel contract terms (as of February 1, 2023).

The contract is finalized upon completion of the application form and payment of the travel fee. Other matters are subject to the Standard Travel Agency Terms and Conditions (see Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website).

Privacy Policy:

Personal information will be used only to arrange the travel services applied for and to improve our products and services. Cancellation, Travel Conditions, and Privacy Policy:
Refer to the provided travel conditions document and privacy policy for further details.