Morning Hiking on Mt. Haguro

• Morning
• Shonai

According to legend, Mt. Haguro was discovered by Prince Hachiko over 1,500 years ago as he was led by a three-legged raven to the holy mountain. Upon being confronted by a divine Buddha, the Prince deemed the mountain a spiritual sanctuary of worship and since then worshipers, monks, pilgrims, and travlers from all around the world have sought out the mountain for it’s divinity and natural beauty.

The experience starts by meeting at the gate of Zuishimon at the base of Mt. Haguro.  Here you will meet your local guide and begin your hike into the ancient forests of Mt. Haguro along its ancient stone path. Hike up the 2,446 stone steps of Mt. Haguro that wind through ancient cedar forests all the way to the Dewa Sanzan Shrine at the mountain peak. 

Along the way, we will pass sights like the Harigawa River, Grandfather Cedar, and the iconic Five Storied Pagoda of this mountain. Minor shrines and natural wonders line either side of the trail and so there is wonder to be found in each and every step of the journey.

As you reach the peak of the mountain, rest and try shojin ryori at a historic shrine nestled among the woods.  Shojin ryori is the traditional cuisine of the Yamabushi mountain monks that have worshipped all that comes from these mountains since ancient times. The unique mountain cuisine follows the strict dietary restrictions of these monks who developed this cuisine to sustain themselves during their training on these mountains. While modest in nature, shojin ryori has evolved beyond simple substance cooking into a delicate culinary art that will linger in your memories for years to come!

Shojin Ryori is primarily vegetarian, however in some cases soup broth derived from fish may be used in some of the dishes.  Please let us know if you would like to substitute this out when you make a reservation.

As you have lunch with your guide, they will explain to you more about the cuisine as you eat it as well as the Yamabushi who developed it.

After lunch, you will explore Dewa Sanzan Shrine and the other cultural sites at the top of the mountain.

Following lunch we will then make our way down the mountain back to the Zuishimon Gate.