Dewa Sanzan On a Budget
Dewa Sanzan, Japan
The climate in Dewa Sanzan is extremely important to consider when planning a trip here as weather greatly affects the accessibility of the mountains. Due to snowy winters and rainy springs and early summers, the best time to visit tends to be between July and mid-October.
Sights
Dewa Sanzan's three mountains are covered in beautiful pagodas, temples, and picturesque hiking trails. At the beginning of the Mt. Haguro trail, just through the forest, is the Goju-no-to five-story pagoda. Goju-no-to was built about 600 years ago and is actually registered as a National Treasure. On the mountain, about halfway up, you'll find the area where Japanese poet Basho wrote one of his famous poems. The peak of Mt. Haguro is quite flat, though it does provide stunning scenery and is also the spot of the Sanzan Gosaiden shrine which is dedicated to the spirtis of all three mountains.Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono are actually connected at a certain point and therefore are often hiked at the same time. On Mt. Gassan, you'll find the Gassan Shrine located at the peak of the mountain. After walking the trail across to Mt. Yudono, you'll find the illustrious Mt. Yudono Shrine which actually bans any photographs and bans visitors from telling outsiders what you witness in the shrine!
Neighborhoods
The city of Dewa Sanzan is made up entirely of the three holy mountains, meaning there is no city center like that of other Japanese cities. You'll find many of the shops and restaurants are located near transport. There is a small shopping center by the Mt. Yudono bus stop which has a few restaurants and shops, it is especially popular for its souvenir shops.Just outside of Dewa Sanzan is Oami, a small district of the neighboring city Yamagata, which has two popular temples, the Dainichibo and the Churenji. The city of Yamagata is more populated and has a few more options for food and accommodation.
Activities
Hiking is the main activity and really the only way to truly explore all of the culture and temples in the area. If you're not a huge fan of hiking, stick to Mt. Haguro as the hike consists primarily of the 2446 stone steps. There is a teahouse located halfway up the steps, making for a good resting place. For more avid hikers, check out Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono for a full-day hike through both mountains. Take caution of the weather and navigation when hiking these mountains; a simple map from the tourist office should suffice for navigation while additional gear may be needed depending on the weather. The mountains tend to see large wind gusts, cooler temperatures towards the top, and have slippery rocks when it rains, meaning proper hiking gear that is built for these conditions is a necessity.Food and Dining
Many of the food options in the Dewa Sanzan area are either chain restaurants or traditional Japanese restaurants often serving udon and soba. These small restaurants are scattered throughout the area, a few can be found at the 8th and 9th stations, the top of Mt. Gassan, and in the parking lot of Mt. Haguro. For the most options, head to the shopping center by the Mt. Yudono bus stop. Keep in mind that there is limited water supply on Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono, so be sure to have plenty of water with you before starting your hike.Transportation
In Japan, trains are one of the fastest and lowest cost means of transportation. Getting a Japan Rail Pass can save you money if you plan to stay for several days or more. Regional and nation-wide passes are available, usually for the number of days of your choice.The main station connecting you to the mountains is Tsuruoka Station located in the city of Yamagata. From Tsuruoka, you can take buses to the foot of Mt. Haguro and Mt. Gassan. There are only occasional buses connecting to Mt. Yudono since most people just hike from Gassan to Yudono then back to catch the bus.
There is a shuttle bus that can take you to the top of Mt. Haguro and take you from the base of Haguro to the base of Gassan. Mt. Haguro is a fair distance from the other two mountains so the shuttle bus is highly suggested seeing as you'll be doing quite a bit of walking all day already!
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