Founded in 593 CE by Prince Hachiko, the Three Mountains of Dewa are Japan's foremost Shugendo pilgrimage, symbolizing past, present, and future in the Journey of Rebirth.
Dewa Sanzan Shrine comprises the three sacred peaks of Haguro, Gassan, and Yudono, centers of Japan's Shugendo mountain ascetic tradition. Said to have been founded in 593 by Prince Hachiko, the pilgrimage to all three mountains is known as the Journey of Rebirth, visiting past, present, and future. The 2,446 steps to Haguro-san's summit pass Tohoku's oldest five-story pagoda, a National Treasure.
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According to tradition, Dewa Sanzan was founded in 593 CE by Prince Hachiko, a cousin of Prince Shotoku, who is said to have opened the three sacred peaks of Haguro, Gassan, and Yudono. During the Nara and Heian periods, the site developed as a center of Shugendo, the syncretic mountain ascetic prac…