【羽黒山】ミシュラン三ツ星の聖地｜2446段の石段と国宝五重塔｜Mt. Haguro Michelin ★★★
A journey of rebirth It starts now The world of Michelin Green Guide Japan’s three-star rating Dewa Sanzan Series Part 2 This is Ryo. Today, we bring you the second episode of the Dewa Sanzan series. “Dewa Sanzan” refers to Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono, sacred mountains said to grant rebirth while still alive. Nowadays it’s said you can start anywhere and still receive blessings, but long ago the proper route began at Mt. Haguro, praying for blessings in this world, then to Mt. Gassan—where ancestors’ spirits are said to dwell—to experience the afterlife, and finally to the sacred Mt. Yudono to receive new life. That was considered the official route. So we’ll follow that route on this channel as well. Last time, we visited Hijiori Onsen, a hidden hot spring northeast of Mt. Gassan. Now begins the first half of the three-mountain pilgrimage— starting with Mt. Haguro. Mt. Haguro lies about 15 km east of central Tsuruoka. From Tsuruoka Station, it’s roughly 40 minutes by bus. Across the spacious Shonai Plain, harvest time is near, and golden Tsuyahime rice waves in the breeze. And here it is— the Haguro Grand Torii, 20 meters tall and 15 meters wide, a giant gate boasting the largest scale in Tohoku. After a refreshing drive, we head for the Zuishinmon Gate. There it comes into view. There are plenty of free parking lots nearby, so no worries. At this shukubo (temple lodging), you can enjoy shojin ryori, Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. It feels like a party of yamabushi ascetics might be staying here. Restrooms are either at a teahouse halfway up a steep slope or at the summit, so it’s best to go at the Ideha Culture Memorial Museum near the parking area or at the Pocket Park in front of Zuishinmon before you start the pilgrimage. Goshuin stamps are available at two places: the Five-Story Pagoda and the Dewa Sanzan Shrine. For the pagoda, receive it at the office before Zuishinmon—don’t miss it. All right, let’s begin the visit. First we pass through Zuishinmon, then aim for Suga Waterfall and the Five-Story Pagoda. This gate separates the secular world from the sacred realm and serves as a barrier protecting the sanctuary from evil spirits. Beyond here, you truly enter the sacred domain. Indeed, the worlds outside and inside the gate feel completely different. After descending the first steps, many small shrines appear. Different deities, each with distinct roles, are enshrined here. Cross the beautiful vermilion Shinbashi Bridge, and you’ll find Suga Waterfall. In the Edo period, water was channeled from distant Mt. Gassan to create this fall. Before the falls stands Fudo Myo-o, signifying this is a site of Shugendo practice. This is the Jii-sugi, a cedar over a thousand years old. Its partner, the Baa-sugi, once stood nearby but fell in a storm. And then— the symbol of Mt. Haguro: the Five-Story Pagoda. The first pagoda is said to have been founded in mid-Heian by Taira no Masakado. The current tower dates to the Muromachi period, and has been preserved through repeated restorations. Last year it was covered with scaffolding for repairs, but now you can admire its full form. Built with traditional joinery and not a single nail, it’s a pinnacle of Japanese carpentry. Truly a majestic ancient pagoda. It has endured centuries in a severe snowy climate. Basking in the afterglow of the falls and the pagoda’s beauty, we now face the start of “hell.” These stone steps were laid in the Edo period— all 2,446 of them. The First and Second Slopes are quite steep up to mid-mountain, and even after conquering them you’re only halfway— enough to make you despair a little. At last, a stump and a stone perfect for a brief rest. In 2009, this cedar avenue and stone stairway earned three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan— a destination “worth a special journey.” Indeed, the sacred atmosphere evokes the Kumano Kodo, with centuries-old giants lining the path endlessly. One of Japan’s foremost scenic sites, without doubt. Climbing very slowly from Zuishinmon for about 50 minutes, we crest the dreaded slope— and are greeted by a “divine” shaved-ice banner. Rice cakes, coffee, shaved ice— just the right menu for a break. A pleasant breeze flows through this teahouse. And what a view- the Shonai Plain spreads out below. Ahh, I’m revived. Let’s buy a pilgrim’s staff and get going again. Halfway to go—let’s keep it up. Until the final challenge, the Third Slope, the path is relatively gentle. And once we climb that, we’re there. Shrines appear now and then along the way—very encouraging. If nothing broke the monotony, this endless hill would be pure torment. Stone steps thread their way among towering trees. Haguro Saikan. Let’s step inside. A gate steeped in history. Here you can stay overnight, and enjoy shojin ryori as well. This entrance is said to date from the Momoyama period. Beyond the Saikan, a red structure comes into view. About 30 minutes after leaving the Second-Slope Teahouse, we finally made it to the top. Pass through this torii, and you arrive at Dewa Sanzan Shrine. This is Itsukushima Shrine. And beyond it, stands Hachiko Shrine, enshrining Prince Hachiko, the founder of Mt. Haguro. Hachiko Shrine. First, let’s worship at the Haguro Sanjin Gosaiden. Magnificent pillars carved with dragons. This pond’s water level hardly changes throughout the year— the mysterious Mitarashi-ike, or Mitarashi Pond. It is said that Haguro Gongen manifests here, and from within the pond many bronze mirrors from the Heian period have been discovered, so it’s also called “Mirror Pond.” In this main hall, all three deities are enshrined— Haguro, Gassan, and Yudono. So even without visiting all three mountains, you can receive the blessings of the full pilgrimage here. What a vast shrine precinct. Next to the main hall is the Sanshuden, where various ceremonies are held. And beyond that stands the Reisaiden, a hall for consoling ancestral spirits. It’s a very sacred place, so we cannot show the interior, but when you come, please do stop by to offer prayers for your ancestors. Here at Mt. Haguro, countless deities are enshrined—truly a super power spot. And here, is Tosho-sha, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Farther along, seven more deities are enshrined. As this is a place to pray for blessings in this world, you can pray here for health, safety, business prosperity— truly everything. What’s more, the poet Matsuo Basho also traveled through Dewa Sanzan in “The Narrow Road to the Deep North.” Here they exhibit treasures such as bronze mirrors that once lay in the Mitarai Pond. And though there is a fee, you can also reach the summit of Dewa Sanzan Shrine by car. For those lacking stamina or with mobility challenges, that’s a great help. Round-trip tolls: 400 yen for regular cars, and 200 yen for motorcycles. Buses from Tsuruoka Station also come up here. Today, as the second episode in our Dewa Sanzan series, we introduced Mt. Haguro. The cedar avenue, awarded three stars by the Michelin Green Guide Japan, truly feels like a mountain where the divine resides. The 2,446 stone steps let you re-experience the spirit of ascetic training, and the National Treasure pagoda and mystical waterfall along the way are beautiful enough to make you forget the hardship. At the summit precincts, the air feels solemn, as if all the gods have gathered, filling you with an indescribable sacred power. Moreover, by worshiping at Mt. Haguro, you can also pray to the deities of Gassan Shrine and Yudonosan Shrine— another major appeal. Mt. Haguro: a sacred land where nature and faith intertwine, Haguro-san. I hope you’ll come and feel its power for yourself at least once. Next episode preview Gassan’s gourmet food and hot springs Stay tuned.
🌿 出羽三山シリーズ第2弾｜羽黒山（Mt. Haguro）
生まれ変わりの旅の第一歩とされる羽黒山。
ミシュラン三ツ星に輝く杉並木と2446段の石段、そして国宝五重塔。
本動画では、その魅力と出羽三山の巡り方を体験映像と共に丁寧に解説しています。
羽黒山は「現世の御利益」を祈る山として知られ、
月山（過去）、湯殿山（未来）とともに、古くから信仰を集めてきたとても神聖な場所です。
📌 出羽三山へ行かれる方は、ぜひご参考にしていただけたら嬉しいです。
🔗 関連動画
第1弾：肘折温泉編 👉https://youtu.be/pUHjdXs4lqI
🔗 公開予定
第３弾：月山志津温泉
第４弾：月山・湯殿山編
🌿 Dewa Sanzan Series Part 2｜Mt. Haguro
Experience the first step of spiritual rebirth at Mt. Haguro.
Discover the Michelin three-star cedar forest, climb the 2,446 stone steps, and see the National Treasure Five-story Pagoda.
This video also gives a clear guide to visiting the Dewa Sanzan shrines, making it a perfect reference for your trip.
📌 A must-watch if you’re planning to visit the sacred mountains of Yamagata, Japan.
🔗 Related Videos
Part 1: Hijiori Onsen 👉 https://youtu.be/pUHjdXs4lqI
🔗 Coming Soon
Part 3: Mt. Gassan Shizu Onsen
Part 4: Mt. Gassan & Mt. Yudono
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2:45 随神門
3:37 須賀の滝
4:06 国宝五重塔
4:54 ミシュラン・グリーンガイド・ジャポン３つ星の杉並木と石段
5:49 二の坂茶屋
6:20 ゴールまであと半分！
7:00 羽黒山斎館
7:33 ここから神社境内のご紹介です
10:26 総評
11:20 次回予告
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