Yudenyama Shrine finally opens! - A Power Spot of Mystery and Healing

The Yudono Shrine Opening Festival is an annual early summer event in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. This mysterious shrine, also known as the inner sanctum of the Dewa Sanzan mountains, is closed off by deep snow during the winter and opens to the public with the arrival of spring.

In this issue, we will introduce the charms of Yudenyama Shrine, known for its saying, “Do not talk about it,” information on the opening of the shrine in 2025, as well as accessibility and recommendations on how to spend your time from nearby Tatasagi.

What is YUDONOSAN Shrine? -A sanctuary of “Don't talk about it

The main shrine of yudonosan Shrine in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, is one of the three sacred mountains of Dewa (Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono), and is still revered by many as a place of ascetic practices.

The most significant feature of yudonosan shrines is that, although they are shrines, there are no ordinary halls of worship. The details of how to visit the shrine and its precincts are not discussed, and only visitors are allowed to experience the mysteries of the shrine.

The origin of faith that is felt with all five senses. This atmosphere is more meaningful to experience with one's own body than to put into words.

There are certainly attractions here that only those who have actually visited can understand. It is precisely because they are not told much about them that the local experience itself remains as a special memory.

Information on the opening of the mountain in 2025 and how to get there

The main shrine of yudonosan Shrine is closed during the winter (from early November to mid-May) and usually opens on June 1, attracting many visitors during the annual opening ceremony.

The main shrine is not accessible by private car, but can be reached by a special toll bus from the Yudenyama Rest House (parking lot). (If you have time, you can also walk there.) It takes about 50 minutes by car from the center of Tsuruoka City to the rest house. From there, it takes about 10 minutes by bus to reach the shrine.

Rest house parking lot: Free
Paid bus: 500 yen round trip for adults (2024 actual figures)
Admission fee: 500 yen

Since the operation is subject to change due to weather conditions, confirmation on the day of the tour is recommended.

The Tsuruoka Kanko Liner is also recommended for transportation to Yudenyama Rest House.

Yudenyama Rest House from all parts of the city between Mt. Haguro and Mt. yudono.

Reference article: ♦️[Tsuruoka/Haguro ⇔ Yudenyama] Tsuruoka Kanko Liner operates!

Another option for transportation to the mt.yudono n rest house is to take a local sightseeing cab.

There is a shared tourist taxi called the "Yudono-go" that is used as a means of transportation connecting various parts of Tsuruoka city to Yudonosan Rest House (*advance reservation required, and operation is limited to certain days). This taxi has a slightly longer operating period, so we recommend you give it a try.

By utilizing these local transportation services, those who have difficulty accessing the temple by public transportation can visit the temple with more ease.

For the latest information, please check the websites of Shonai Kotsu or the Tsuruoka City Tourist Association.

Yudenyama Shrine is located deep in the mountains, so access may seem somewhat difficult.

However, the fact that it is a “hard-to-get-to” place makes it all the more worthwhile to visit.

A “Journey to Connect with Nature” Experienced at Yudenyama

At the main shrine of yudonosan Shrine, visitors are said to experience a sense of wonder and peace that words cannot describe.

The period immediately following the opening of the mountain is the best season to visit, when the snow melts and the fresh greenery shines beautifully. The austere air and quietness of the mountain will make you feel as if your heart is being prepared with every step you take.

The power of a real “place” that cannot be conveyed through photos or social networking sites. The greatest attraction of Yudenyama is that you can experience this.

Yudenyama Sangosho “Kami no Yu” - Misogi in the hot spring of God, which can only be experienced here

YUDONOSAN The Niu-Mizukami Shrine, located on the approach to the main shrine, is dedicated to the god of water and contains a rare carbon dioxide mineral spring with a source temperature of 18°C. This spring is also the source of the “Yudonosan Sankosho/Kami-no-Yu” (hot spring for the gods). This mineral spring is also the source of the “yudonosan Sankosho/Kami-no-yu” and brings purification and healing to the body and soul of visitors.

In the bathroom, “Niutsuhime no Kami,” the sister goddess of Amaterasu, is enshrined and quietly envelopes visitors as a sacred hot spring filled with gentle power.

Before bathing, visitors bow to the altar in the bathhouse and respectfully take a bath, which is like misogi (purification rites) with the gods.

Benefits: High blood pressure, gynecological diseases, neurological diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, obesity, arteriosclerosis, chronic skin diseases, fatigue recovery. *People with acute illnesses (especially fevers), kidney failure, or respiratory failure should refrain from bathing.

Hours of operation: 7:00-22:00 (guests staying overnight) / 9:00-15:00 (day trips) Location: 1st basement floor (separate for men and women, baths for 4-5 people) *No showers or washing areas. Please use the bath on the 1st floor. *Towels are not provided, please bring your own or purchase for 500 yen. Day trip bathing fee: 1,000 yen

Hagurosan and Mt. Tsukiyama to visit together with Mt.

Hagurosan and Gassan, the other two of the three mountains of Dewa, are also attractive spots in their own right. Hagurosan can be visited throughout the year, and is popular for its cedar-lined stone steps (2,446 steps) and five-story pagoda. Tsukiyama is open for climbing from July and, like Yudenyama, is also a route for serious ascetic practices.

The “Sankan Sando,” or three visits to all three mountains, has long been believed to be a journey of reincarnation.

From Guesthouse Watasagi to mt.yudono - Recommended Stay Plan

Guesthouse Watasagi is located near the bus stop in the direction of Mt. Haguro from Tsuruoka Station, right in the middle of Gassan, Haguro, and Yudono, making it a perfect base for touring the three mountains of Dewa.

Free standing kitchen and refrigerator
Quiet and serene location
Dormitory lodging for solo travelers

"Since I've come all the way to Shonai, I want to stay and relax for a few days." "I want to feel like I'm at home." For those of you who feel this way, we recommend a multiple-night stay.

Especially at mt.yudono, the morning light is exceptional, so it is a good idea to stay the night before so that you can leave early in the morning.

summary

A visit to Yudonosan Shrine is not just a tourist attraction, but is popular as a "journey of self-reflection." It is a mysterious shrine that can only be visited for five months out of the year.

udono-san Shrine, located deep in the mountains, is a must-visit destination if you don't have a car. Public transportation only operates during the mountain's opening season, so it is recommended to go by private or rental car. However, we recommend that travelers use the Tsuruoka Tourist Liner or the Yudono-go.

Yudonosan Shrine is quiet, powerful, and somehow nostalgic. When you experience this atmosphere, you'll surely find yourself thinking, "I want to come back again."

This year, I hope you will experience a time to prepare your heart and mind at God's Mountain: ❣️

And we hope that you will take a rest at “Guest House Watasagi” as the base of your trip.

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 local areas of Yamagata, Tsuruoka, and Shonai. The latest updates are posted on Instagram. Please follow us and stay tuned💕