The Three Sacred Mountains
Dewa Sanzan are The Three Sacred Mountains close to the city of Tsuruoka in the north of the main island of Japan, Honshu. Dewa Sanzan is an area of great spiritual importance for the Japanese and is a place of pilgrimage.
The three mountain peaks of Dewa Sanzan are Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The summer months make for excellent hiking in the area.
The cedar trees are enormous and hidden among them is the Five-Storey Pagoda of Mt Haguro.
Saikan
it is well worth staying at Saikan if you can. It is a former Buddhist temple on Mount Haguro that is run by monks and offers the opportunity for people to stay in ethereal surrounding.
The impressive temple structure has a vast thatched roof. Priests hold ceremonies in the main areas of the temple. The centre and surrounding forests are serene and peaceful.
The rooms at Saikan are vast and have the usual tatami floors. Bathrooms are communal and clean. The monks prepare imaginative and delicious vegetarian meals.
The Five Storey Pagoda
A few minutes walk from Saikan through the enchanting cedar forests and you arrive at The Five Storey Pagoda. The pagoda has survived for more than six hundred years. It is a tremendous sight and remains deeply ingrained in my memory.
