Ideha Shrine (Dewa Sanzan / Haguro)
出羽神社
Yamagata · Tsuruoka
Dewa Sanzan The Present
Kanpei Taisha
Gassan Shrine (Dewa Sanzan)
月山神社
/ Gassan Jinja
Admission
500 JPY (summit shrine purification fee)
Goshuin (Temple Seal)
500 JPY
Access
See details
Hours
July-September only
Overview
Gassan Shrine crowns the summit of Mount Gassan (1,984m), the highest of the Three Mountains of Dewa. In the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage, Gassan represents the past and the realm of ancestors, symbolizing death before rebirth at Mount Yudono. The mountain is blanketed in snow for much of the year, and the summit shrine is accessible only during a brief summer window from July to September. The climb through alpine meadows and snowfields is itself considered a spiritual practice. Matsuo Basho visited in 1689, writing in Oku no Hosomichi of his transformative experience on the sacred mountains.
History
Founding
📜According to tradition
593 [推古天皇元年]
According to tradition, the Three Mountains of Dewa were opened as a religious center in 593 by Prince Hachiko, son of Emperor Sushun. Gassan represents the past and the realm of the dead in the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage tradition. The mountain has been sacred to Shugendo practitioners for over 1,400 years.
593📜According to tradition
Traditional opening of Dewa Sanzan by Prince Hachiko
Enshrined Deities
⛩
Blessings
Shrine Network
Dewa Sanzan head
Did You Know?
💡
Gassan is one of the last mountains in Japan to lose its snow cover, sometimes retaining snowfields into August, enabling summer skiing.
Source: documented
💡
Matsuo Basho wrote of the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage in his masterwork Oku no Hosomichi (1689).
Source: documented
Practical Information
Location Coordinates
38.3000, 140.0240
Physical Address
31 Tachiyazawa Honzawa, Shonai, Higashitagawa District, Yamagata
山形県東田川郡庄内町立谷沢字本澤31
Access
Tsuruoka Station (JR Uetsu Line)
Hours
July-September only
Visitor information last verified: 2026-04-06. Please check the official website for the latest details.
Related Shrines
Frequently Asked Questions
Information provided by Jinja DB Editorial Team
What is Gassan Shrine (Dewa Sanzan)?
Gassan Shrine crowns the summit of Mount Gassan (1,984m), the highest of the Three Mountains of Dewa. In the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage, Gassan represents the past and the realm of ancestors, symbolizing death before rebirth at Mount Yudono. The mountain is blanketed in snow for much of the year, and the summit shrine is accessible only during a brief summer window from July to September. The climb through alpine meadows and snowfields is itself considered a spiritual practice. Matsuo Basho visited in 1689, writing in Oku no Hosomichi of his transformative experience on the sacred mountains.
Where is Gassan Shrine (Dewa Sanzan) located?
Gassan Shrine (Dewa Sanzan) is located in Shonai (Haguro), Yamagata. The full address is: 31 Tachiyazawa Honzawa, Shonai, Higashitagawa District, Yamagata.
What deities are enshrined at Gassan Shrine (Dewa Sanzan)?
The enshrined deities are: Tsukuyomi no Mikoto.