Three days of true self-discipline: “Dewa Sanzan Yamabushi Training Experience”

The “Dewa Sanzan” (Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono) in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata
Prefecture, has long been known as a sacred site of Shugendō, where countless Yamabushi monks have walked for centuries.

🏔 The History of Dewa Sanzan and Shugendō

Dewa Sanzan is said to have been founded about 1,400 years ago by Prince Hachiko, son of Emperor Sushun, the 32nd Emperor of Japan.
The prince fled to the Sea of Japan coast to escape political strife and began his mountain ascetic training here, which marked the beginning of the faith.

Later, from the Heian through the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, the belief that “mountains are dwelling places of the gods” spread, and within the current of syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism, Shugendō flourished. Dewa Sanzan became a sacred site where ascetics who “lay themselves upon the mountains”—the Yamabushi—gathered from all over Japan.

The three mountains each symbolize “life, death, and rebirth.”

Mount Haguro (This World): The mountain of walking while bearing the hardships of the present life
**Mount Gassan (Death):** A sacred snowy peak symbolizing the world after death
*Mount Yudono (Rebirth):* A mountain of sacred mysteries, where a springing rock is revered as the deity itself, symbolizing spiritual rebirth.

In this way, Dewa Sanzan came to be known as the “Mountains of Rebirth,” where practices and faith have continued to live on to this day.

✨ The Appeal of Yamabushi Training

In the training experience, participants don white robes and completely let go of conveniences such as smartphones and watches.
They climb the stone steps of Mount Haguro while chanting in the *tosō-gyō* ritual, receive prayers at Gassan Hongū Shrine, and undergo sacred practices at Mount Yudono such as *osawa-kake* (river ascetic training) and waterfall purification.

At night, participants walk across fire in the *Shusse-shiki* ritual, confront themselves in total darkness during *danbari*, and engage in practices such as eating shōjin ryōri (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) and zazen meditation.
It is a flow of time in which one can unite with nature—something never to be experienced in the city.

🌱 How will you change by participating?

“What happens when you join Yamabushi training?”
It’s a common question, but the answer differs from person to person.

Some people feel a dramatic change within just three days, while others only notice it months later after returning to daily life.
But what is common to all is that **a quiet transformation begins to grow within**.

“It wasn’t something taught by others—it welled up from within myself.”
That very feeling is the greatest appeal of Yamabushi training.

💬 Voices of Participants (from testimonials)

“At first I thought, ‘There’s no way I can go three days without my phone.’ But when it was over, I was amazed at how light my heart felt.”

“The *tosō-gyō* of chanting while climbing the stone steps was really tough. But when I finally reached the top, the sense of accomplishment was so overwhelming it brought me to tears.”

“In the kind of *silence* you can never find in the city, the only sounds were my own voice and heartbeat. I will never forget that experience for the rest of my life.”

📋 Application Guidelines (FY2025)

日程September 26 (Fri) – 28 (Sun), 2025
**Fee:** 45,000 yen (includes lodging, meals, and robes / transportation not included)
**Application Deadline:** September 1 (Mon), 2025
How to Apply: Submit the application form by mail, fax, or email to the *Ideha Cultural Memorial Hall* (payment in cash on the day / electronic payments not accepted).
**Eligibility:** Generally ages 13 and up (those under 20 require parental consent / those 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
**Group Participation:** Day trip, one-night two-day, or two-night three-day options (at different times) can also be arranged upon consultation.

*Note: The program may be canceled if there are 17 or fewer participants.*

For details, please refer to the application guidelines.

🏡 For pre- and post-stay accommodations, choose “Watausagi”

It feels a bit wasteful to return straight to everyday life right after the training.
For those who feel this way, we recommend “Watausagi,” a traditional townhouse guesthouse in Tsuruoka City.

In a quiet environment, you can organize your training experience into notes or photos.
With homemade meals made from local ingredients, both body and mind are gently restored.
Conveniently located for pre- or post-training stays.

It is a place where you can fully savor the lingering afterglow of your “journey of rebirth.”

🌸 Summary

Yamabushi training on Dewa Sanzan is a completely different experience from ordinary “sightseeing.”
By letting go of convenience and facing nature, you create the time to truly meet yourself.

“If you want to be reborn, if you want to reset yourself”—
when you feel that way, step through the gate of this training.
Surely, something new will begin to grow within you.

👉 Details & Application: Ideha Cultural Memorial Hall

Guesthouse WataUsagi is uniquely located right between the three sacred peaks of Dewa Sanzan— making it the perfect place to stay for those exploring all three mountains.

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💕