Mt. Haguro (Dewa Sanzan)

羽黒山

Mt. Haguro is one of the Three Mountains of Dewa (Dewa Sanzan) near Tsuruoka City. The path up the mountain is lined with old cedar trees that are 350 to 500 years old. Along the way stands the Five-storied Pagoda, a National Treasure. Beyond it, a steep stone staircase continues to the summit, with a tea house on the way.

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Visitor information

Getting there: From Tsuruoka City, take the Shonai Kotsu bus bound for Mt. Haguro (about 50 minutes). By car, it is about 10 km from Tsuruoka IC; parking is available.
Time needed: The walk to the summit takes about 60 minutes.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

The stone stairs beyond the pagoda are steep. If walking is hard for you, the top can also be reached by car.
The pagoda is lit up June to August 18:00–21:00 (enter by 20:30) and September to October 17:30–20:30; adults pay 500 yen.
Other shrines on the mountain are difficult to visit in winter.

Tips for Muslim visitors

There are 2,446 stone steps to the summit. From the Five-Storied Pagoda it is about 20 minutes on foot to the Ninosaka teahouse and about 30 more minutes to Sanjin Gosaiden.
Natural sites may have few facilities. Bring water, a travel prayer mat and a qibla app, and check the weather; mountains and lakes can be much colder than the city.
Restrooms for wudu can be far apart on trails. Many Muslim travellers carry a small water bottle for wudu.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Yamagata and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.