ÂÜÀòÉäÇø

500px Photo ID: 43496704 - Pilgrimage to Dewa Sanzan, the three sacred mountains, start from Mount Haguro symbolizing the birth, continous with Mount Gassan symbolizing the death. Then ends with Mount Yudono (rebirth).

Eric in Japan / 500px

Gas-san

Top choice in Northern Honsh¨± (T¨­hoku)

LoginSave

Accessible from July to September, Gas-san (1984m) is the highest of Dewa Sanzan's sacred mountains. From ±á²¹³¦³ó¾±²µ¨­³¾±ð (°ËºÏÄ¿; eighth station) the route passes through an alpine plateau to °­²â¨±²µ¨­³¾±ð (¾ÅºÏÄ¿; ninth station) in 1? hours, then grinds uphill for another 1? hours to the top.

From here the pilgrimage route presses on towards the steep descent to Yudono-san. This takes another three hours or so, and you'll have to carefully descend rusty ladders chained to the cliffs and pick your way down through a slippery stream bed at the end of the trail.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • 500px Photo ID: 51173684 -

    Haguro-san

    10.98 MILES

    The 2446 stone steps through ancient cedars to Haguro-san's summit (419m) have been smoothed by centuries of pilgrims. The climb, taking up to two hours,¡­

  • Yudono-san

    Yudono-san

    2.53 MILES

    Accessible from May to October, Yudono-san (1504m) is the spiritual culmination of the Dewa Sanzan trek. Coming from Gas-san it's a short walk from the¡­

  • Risshaku-ji

    Risshaku-ji

    27.31 MILES

    The 'Temple of Standing Stones', more commonly known as Yamadera, rests atop a rock-hewn staircase weathered over the centuries by unrelenting elements¡­

  • Kamo Aquarium

    Kamo Aquarium

    22.05 MILES

    The world's largest jellyfish tank ¨C containing 30 to 40 species at any one time ¨C was given a spark by a Nobel Prize¨Cwinning scientist who discovered a¡­

  • Yudono-san-jinja

    Yudono-san-jinja

    2.25 MILES

    Beyond the giant red torii of this shrine, ancient tradition (and stern-faced priests) forbids disclosure of what you witness. It's forbidden to¡­

  • ´Ü±ð²Ô±è¨­-Âá¾±

    ´Ü±ð²Ô±è¨­-Âá¾±

    20.93 MILES

    Seven kilometres west of Tsuruoka is this Zen Buddhist temple, complete with five-tier pagoda and large gateway. It dates from the 10th century, when it¡­

  • Hirashimizu Pottery District

    Hirashimizu Pottery District

    28.23 MILES

    In the 19th century there were dozens of fiery kilns lining the Hazukashi-gawa, turning out beautiful bluish-grey mottled pottery pieces known as nashi¡­

  • Chid¨­ Museum

    Chid¨­ Museum

    16.69 MILES

    Founded in 1950 by the former Lord Sh¨­nai in order to preserve local culture, this museum features Sakai-family artefacts, two Meiji-era buildings, a¡­

View more attractions

Nearby Northern Honsh¨± (T¨­hoku) attractions

1. Gas-san-jinja

0.09 MILES

At the peak of Gas-san is the deeply spiritual Shint¨­ shrine of Gassan-jinja. Before entering you must be 'purifed': bow to receive the priest's¡­

2. Yudono-san-jinja

2.25 MILES

Beyond the giant red torii of this shrine, ancient tradition (and stern-faced priests) forbids disclosure of what you witness. It's forbidden to¡­

3. Yudono-san

2.53 MILES

Accessible from May to October, Yudono-san (1504m) is the spiritual culmination of the Dewa Sanzan trek. Coming from Gas-san it's a short walk from the¡­

4. Haguro-san

10.98 MILES

The 2446 stone steps through ancient cedars to Haguro-san's summit (419m) have been smoothed by centuries of pilgrims. The climb, taking up to two hours,¡­

5. Chid¨­ Museum

16.69 MILES

Founded in 1950 by the former Lord Sh¨­nai in order to preserve local culture, this museum features Sakai-family artefacts, two Meiji-era buildings, a¡­

6. ´Ü±ð²Ô±è¨­-Âá¾±

20.93 MILES

Seven kilometres west of Tsuruoka is this Zen Buddhist temple, complete with five-tier pagoda and large gateway. It dates from the 10th century, when it¡­

7. Kamo Aquarium

22.05 MILES

The world's largest jellyfish tank ¨C containing 30 to 40 species at any one time ¨C was given a spark by a Nobel Prize¨Cwinning scientist who discovered a¡­

8. Risshaku-ji

27.31 MILES

The 'Temple of Standing Stones', more commonly known as Yamadera, rests atop a rock-hewn staircase weathered over the centuries by unrelenting elements¡­