DMC Tendo Onsen Launches Special Pilgrimage Program "Hagurosan Pilgrimage with Yamabushi, Starting from Tendo Onsen" for an Experience Beyond Tourism

DMC Tendo Onsen Co., Ltd. (Kamata Honcho 2-5-43, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture | Representative Director: Atsushi Yamaguchi), operating the experiential tour brand TENDODAYS from Tendo Onsen, has begun sales of a special program "Hagurosan Pilgrimage with Yamabushi, Starting from Tendo Onsen." This program allows participants to tour Hagurosan, the entrance to Dewa Sanzan faith, together with active Yamabushi. It is a special program limited to three days.

Active Yamabushi, Priest Kazuhiro Hayasaka

Under the guidance of Priest Kazuhiro Hayasaka, the 17th head of the Shukubo Daishinbo temple and a Yamabushi himself, participants will receive prayers and enter Hagurosan wearing ascetic robes and a sacred rope (shimenawa). They will experience a part of the spiritual culture of Dewa Sanzan that cannot be accessed through general tourism.

National Treasure Hagurosan Five-Story Pagoda

A Journey to Experience the Culture of Prayer, Not Just Sightseeing

Dewa Sanzan has been a sacred site for mountain worship, attracting many people for nearly 1400 years. Hagurosan, in particular, has welcomed many pilgrims as the gateway to Dewa Sanzan faith.

While it has become a popular tourist destination in recent years, this tour aims not just to visit famous spots, but to experience the prayers, views of nature, and the relationship between humans and nature that have been passed down by the Yamabushi.

Participants will receive formal prayers at Shukubo Daishinbo, don ascetic robes and a shimenawa, and then enter Hagurosan. Guided by the Yamabushi, they will experience the culture of prayer while walking the 2,446 stone steps.

For Those Whose Schedules Don't Match or Who Are Visiting Hagurosan (Dewa Sanzan) for the First Time

As "Hagurosan Pilgrimage with Yamabushi, Starting from Tendo Onsen" is a special pilgrimage program including prayers by Yamabushi and wearing ascetic robes, and is limited to three days, we also offer the "First Hagurosan Pilgrimage" tour for those who "cannot make the dates," "want to visit Hagurosan (Dewa Sanzan) first," or "want to participate more casually." This tour includes round-trip private car hire from Tendo Onsen, Shojin Ryori (vegetarian Buddhist cuisine), and prayers at the Mishin Gosaiden.

You can view the tour details by clicking the button below.

TENDODAYS Tour Page

View Details of the "First Hagurosan Pilgrimage" Tour

Hagurosan Stone Steps

Deeper Yamagata Experiences Starting from Tendo Onsen

Hagurosan is not easily accessible for travelers solely by public transportation due to numerous transfers.

This tour provides transportation from Tendo Onsen to Hagurosan via private car hire. By reducing travel burdens, participants can focus entirely on the experience itself.

Under the concept of "Experiencing Authentic Yamagata That Will Last a Lifetime," DMC Tendo Onsen delivers experiences rooted in the region's inherited culture and lifestyle. This program is part of that initiative, aiming to pass on the spiritual culture of Dewa Sanzan to the future.

Tour Overview

Tour Name: Hagurosan Pilgrimage with Yamabushi, Starting from Tendo Onsen ― Donning Ascetic Robes, Receiving Prayers, and Walking the 1400-Year Path of Prayer ―

Dates: July 16, 2026 (Thursday) September 18, 2026 (Friday) October 13, 2026 (Tuesday)

Recommended For:

1. Those interested in Dewa Sanzan and Hagurosan but unsure where to start. 2. Those who wish to experience authentic Yamabushi culture and the culture of prayer. 3. Those visiting Yamagata from metropolitan areas like the Kanto region via public transportation.

Capacity: 8 people per session

Tour Fee:

¥45,000 per person (tax included)

Inclusions:

・Transportation from Tendo Onsen by private car hire ・Prayer session at Daishinbo ・Wearing of ascetic robes and shimenawa (can be taken home) ・Ascent of the Hagurosan stone staircase path with a Yamabushi ・Prayer session at Mishin Gosaiden ・Shojin Ryori (vegetarian Buddhist cuisine)

・Insurance

Reservations:

Online reservations available on the official DMC Tendo Onsen website, TENDODAYS.

View Details of "Hagurosan Pilgrimage with Yamabushi"

Message from the Planner

We aim to provide opportunities to connect with the culture and values inherited by the land, not just to guide tourists around attractions.

Walking Hagurosan is more than just a hike. By walking the path of prayer with a Yamabushi, we hope participants can feel a sense of awe towards nature, which is increasingly being lost in modern times, and a connection with nature, leading to personal transformation.

DMC Tendo Onsen

Makoto Suzuki, Manager of the Travel Business Department

Yamagata's Blue Guide

☗DMC Tendo Onsen

DMC Tendo Onsen is a regional management company established by Tendo Onsen hotel operators, and the operator of TENDODAYS. With the motto "Co-creation, not competition," they are promoting the development of tourism regions where visitors can stay for multiple nights and revisit, by enhancing the appeal of the area beyond individual hotels.

Address: 2-5-43 Kamata Honcho, Tendo City, Yamagata 994-0025

Phone: 023-654-6699

URL: https://www.tendodays.com