[Mt. Haguro ★ Michelin ★ Awarded] The world-renowned "Mountain of Prayer"

Mount Haguro sits quietly in this naturally rich area of Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. Many people from Japan and abroad visit this place to see its mystical rows of cedar trees and five-story pagoda, but did you know that it has been given a "world-class title"?

That is the star rating given by the Michelin Green Guide.

"Michelin is not a gourmet book"? Another Michelin that rates tourist destinations

You may have a strong image of "Michelin = star-ranked restaurants," but there is actually another series that is trusted by travel lovers all over the world.

That is the Michelin Green Guide.

A travel guidebook published by the French company Michelin
Surveying tourist destinations around the world and evaluating their cultural value, scenery, and experience
The surveyor will visit the site and then decide on the evaluation.
Evaluation results are rated with stars.

The Green Guide is a traditional series that has been around since the early 1900s, and like the restaurant version (commonly known as the Red Guide), it is characterized by strict evaluation standards and neutrality.

What are the evaluation criteria?

To receive a star in the Green Guide, a comprehensive assessment is taken into account a number of factors, including:

Historical and cultural background and value
beauty of scenery
Depth of experience (whether it's worth visiting)
Ease of access and surrounding environment

And the ratings are categorized like this:

Meaning of number of stars

★★★Worth the trip ★★Worth stopping by if you're in the area ★An interesting tourist spot

A place doesn't get stars just for being "beautiful" or "historic." It only gets stars when the experience itself is recognized as meaningful.

Michelin star awarded to Mount Haguro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnPqLF2iYg

Mt. Haguro has been awarded a rating of "★★ (worth stopping by if you're in the area)" by the Green Guide Japan. This rating is based on the evaluation of the Dewa Sanzan mountains (Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono) as a whole, including Mt. Haguro.

The English version introduces it as follows:

“Dewa Sanzan are three sacred mountains: Haguro-san, Gas-san and Yudono-san. Haguro-san is the most accessible and features a splendid avenue of centuries-old cryptomerias leading to the Five-Story Pagoda, a National Treasure.”（Michelin Green Guide Japan）

The following points are highly rated among the content presented:

Mount Haguro's evaluation points

The impressive cedar-lined approach to the shrine Climbing the 2,446 stone steps and walking among cedar trees that are over 300 to 600 years old is a truly memorable experience as a "journey to restore your spirit."
National Treasure - Mount Haguro Five-Story Pagoda Built approximately 600 years ago, the oldest five-story pagoda in the Tohoku region stands silently in the forest, creating a mystical experience.
Spirituality as the center of Shugendo culture As a training ground for mountain ascetics, prayer and training are still passed down to this day, and the fact that it offers a "weighty experience" that sets it apart from being just a tourist destination is what makes it so highly regarded.

"The excitement of Mt. Haguro" as seen through the voices of travelers

Reviews and social media posts from foreign tourists who have actually visited Mount Haguro are full of affirmative comments about the star rating.

"It was a place where you could experience real Japanese culture." "Walking along the cedar-lined street made me feel like I was facing myself." "It was more of a 'prayerful experience' than a tourist spot."

In Europe and the United States in particular, there is a tendency to value "tranquility," "introspection," and "spiritual journeys," and places that offer "quiet inspiration" like Mt. Haguro have been attracting more and more attention in recent years.

Easy access: a sacred place within reach, accessible by bus

You may think of Mount Haguro as being deep in the mountains, but it is actually very convenient to access.

There is a direct bus from Tsuruoka Station to Mt. Haguro (about 40 minutes)
It's a short walk from the bus stop to the entrance to the shrine
There are information desks and rest spots along the way, so even beginners can feel at ease.

Haguro is a place where you can have a deep experience in nature, yet it is also surprisingly easy to get to, which is one of its charms.

Please use "Watausagi" as a base for your trip.

Guesthouse Watausagi is located very close to the bus stop for Mount Haguro from Tsuruoka Station, so it is popular with tourists visiting Mount Haguro. Its convenient location makes it easy to stop by before or after sightseeing, and its easy access makes planning your trip smoother.

It is also within walking distance of the center of Tsuruoka city, making it very convenient for exploring the city. Guests can use the kitchen freely and feel at home, making it popular with guests who want to stay for multiple nights and relax. is located very close to the bus stop for Mount Haguro from Tsuruoka Station, so it is also popular with tourists visiting Mount Haguro. It is an easy place to stop by before or after sightseeing, and its easy access makes planning your trip smooth.

If you are looking for a place to stay while visiting Mount Haguro, we also recommend Guesthouse Watausagi.

Conveniently located on the bus route to Mt. Haguro
Within walking distance of restaurants popular among foreigners, such as KFC and Pizza Hut
A small base that combines local warmth with a sense of security for travelers

How about a trip where you can relax your body and mind in a dimly lit lodging after walking through the tranquility of Mt. Haguro?

Summary | Let's walk the "star-given mountain"

Mount Haguro is not amazing because it has received a Michelin star, but because it is a place that originally contained "real value" that even Japanese people did not realize.

Travelers from all over the world are now realizing its value and beginning to visit.

A little break from the everyday
Quietly confront yourself
Slowly "savor the journey"

This is the time you can experience.

Although the Michelin Green Guide is widely known in French and English, there is almost no complete Japanese version, so the fact that Mt. Haguro is rated by Michelin is not well known in Japan.

Now that you know this evaluation, why not take another look at the charm of Mt. Haguro and experience for yourself this world-renowned "path of prayer"?

Why not take a step-by-step walk along the approach to Mt. Haguro, guided by the Michelin stars?

Guesthouse Watasagi is a guesthouse located right in between the ocean, the mountains, and the city center.

We hope you will enjoy Tsuruoka and Shonai to the fullest with Guesthouse Watasagi as your base 😊.

We also promote the attractions of our hometowns of Yamagata, Tsuruoka, and Shonai. We post the latest updates on Instagram. Please follow us and wait for our updates💕