Yamagata:
The Spiritual Core of Japan
“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home” -Matsuo Basho
Poetry penetrates deep into the souls of the Japanese, and none more so than the Haiku of Matsuo Basho, the country’s self-proclaimed saint of Haiku. But what does it take to evoke such awe-inspiring prose? On his journey composing the quintessential masterpiece The Narrow Road to the Deep North, said to have been written by the very soul of Japan, Matsuo Basho, was confronted with the precarious cliffs, gushing rivers, bountiful forests, serene landscapes and flora and fauna of Yamagata Prefecture, the spiritual core of Japan.
For over 1400 years, Yamagata Prefecture has been the home to hundreds of pilgrimages on the mystifying Dewa Sanzan; Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono. Not to mention the prefecture is also the location of the famous Yamadera temple hanging off the edge of a cliff, and the towering Mt. Chokai, a.k.a the Fuji of the north, making it the best place to experience the spiritual side of the land of the rising sun.
Get Immersed in The Spiritual Core of Japan
Escape to the spiritual core of Japan, Yamagata Prefecture.
Adventures
See our range of exciting activities designed for your self-development
Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, Mt. Yudono
Dewa Sanzan Shrine and Mt. Haguro
Zenpoji Temple, Tsuruoka
Kurokawa, Tsuruoka
01. GET REBORN WITH YAMABUSHI TRAINING ON THE DEWA SANZAN
The Dewa Sanzan: Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono
02. YAMABUSHI-GUIDED KOCHU PILGRIMAGE ON MT. HAGURO
Dewa Sanzan Shrine and Mt. Haguro
03. ESCAPE TO A ZEN MONASTERY
Zenpoji Temple Tsuruoka
04. EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN SIDE OF YAMADERA
Yamadera
05. MOUNTAIN VEGETABLE AND MUSHROOM FORAGING WITH DEWAYA
Dewaya Nishikawa
Dewaya Nishikawa
07. TASTE YAMABUSHI LIFE WITH WATERFALL MEDITATION AND TREKKING
Mt. Yudono
Get Reborn with Yamabushido Training on the Dewa Sanzan
Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, Mt. Yudono
- Train under the guidance of a Yamabushi Master
- Experience the metaphysical rebirth felt by Yamabushi for millennium
- Put your body and mind to the test in the ice-cold waterfall meditation
- Explore the Japan Heritage Dewa Sanzan
Join Master Hoshino, the 13th generation Yamabushi Master of Daishobo Pilgrim Lodge, and the Yamabushido team as they embark on a Haguro Shugendo-style pilgrimage of rebirth on the Dewa Sanzan.
Yamabushi-Guided Kochu Pilgrimage on Mt. Haguro
Dewa Sanzan Shrine and Mt. Haguro
- Get immersed in the Michelin-starred towering cedars and stone stairway of Mt. Haguro
- Join an ancient Kochu pilgrimage with a certified Yamabushi
- Take part in the breathtaking official worship ritual at Dewa Sanzan Shrine
- Discover the ancient connection between Buddha, Kami gods, with nature that the Japanese have had for millennia.
Taste life as a Yamabushi on Mt. Haguro. Your Yamabushi guide will take you from your Shukubo Pilgrim Lodge up Mt. Haguro, stopping for a small meal at Nino-zaka Teahouse, before arriving at Dewa Sanzan Shrine at the top for the official worship ritual.
Learn How to Maintain a Zen State of Mind
Yamadera
- Get lessons in Zen straight from the mouth of the master
- Zen Meditation in the famous temples of Risshakuji, otherwise known as Yamadera
- Discover the hidden ancient haunts of the monk who founded the famous mountain temple
- Try your hand at calligraphy like the Buddhist monks of old
Let us take you to the original spots the founder, Jikaku Daishi trained in, and tell you the origin story. Just a hint, it’s not where you think it is. Get to know everything there is about Yamadera Temple, the famous temple on the precipice of a cliff.
Escape to a Zen monastery
Zenpoji Temple, Tsuruoka
- Zen Meditation in a purpose-built meditation hall
- Calligraphy under the guidance of Zen monks
- Ancient rituals that have been passed down through the centuries
Try Zen Meditation in the specially-built meditation hall, wake up to the prayer session that has been continuing non-stop for more than 100 years, or try your hand at Japanese calligraphy. Accommodation available.
Learn the Ancient Secrets of Noh Masters
Kurokawa, Tsuruoka
- Learn the history and culture of Kurokawa Noh
- Explore the historical town of Kurokawa
- Come face to face with some of Japan’s oldest Noh masks
Explore the town of Kurokawa in Tsuruoka, and earn all about Kurokawa Noh, some of the country’s oldest Noh theatre.
Garner an Appreciation for the Source of Life
Dewaya Nishikawa
- Forage for fresh mountain vegetables in the new green of spring
- Search for mountain mushrooms amongst the autumn leaves
- Expert foragers to guide you
- Decadent dinner matched with local sake tasting
Dewaya is a Ryokan, traditional Japanese Lodge, in Nishikawa on the inland Yamagata side of Mt. Gassan. The nearby forests of the mountains are covered in edible vegetables and mushrooms that are ripe for the picking. Join the team on one of their expeditions, and help prepare a feast for the ages complete with local sake.
Get in Touch with your Primitive Self
Mt. Yudono
- Experience Yamabushi training at the most sacred of the three Dewa Sanzan, Mt. Yudono
- Try waterfall meditation in the ice-cold falls
- Experienced Yamabushi guides
- Authentic Fire Festival
Join the Yamabushi as they take you on a journey to rebirth on the most sacred of the Dewa Sanzan, Mt. Yudono. Experience authentic waterfall meditation in the frigid waters and trek through the wild bush surrounding Mt. Yudono shrine.
Get Reborn with Yamabushi Training on the Dewa Sanzan
The Dewa Sanzan: Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono
- Train under the guidance of a Yamabushi Master
- Experience the metaphysical rebirth felt by Yamabushi for millennium
- Put your body and mind to the test in the ice-cold waterfall meditation
- Explore the Japan Heritage Dewa Sanzan
Join Master Hoshino, the 13th generation Yamabushi Master of Daishobo Pilgrim Lodge, and the Yamabushido team as they embark on a Haguro Shugendo-style pilgrimage of rebirth on the Dewa Sanzan.
