Dewa Shrine

Mount Haguro (羽黒山) is one of the Three Mountains of Dewa in the city of Tsuruoka, the ancient province of Dewa (a domain consisting of modern-day Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture), Japan. It is a large shrine complex with a major Shinto shrine associated with Shugendo. As the lowest of the three mountains, standing at 414 m, it is the only one that is accessible throughout the year. By contrast Gassan Shrine and Yudonosan Shrine, which are closed during winter due to heavy snowfall. Because of this it is considered the main shrine.

A path of 2,446 stone steps leads to its summit amidst 600-year-old sugi trees, past the famous Gojūnotō (五重塔) five story pagoda, Grandpa cedar (jijisugi 爺杉), the 1000 years old cedar tree, and numerous shrines. The steps and the pagoda are listed as National Treasures. Dewa Shrine, also called Hagurosan Shrine or Sanjingōsaiden shrine (三神合祭殿) located at the summit venerates the spirits of all three mountains, making it the most important of all the three shrines.

The summit can also be reached by bus service. In addition to religious pilgrims, travellers often stay at the Saikan temple lodgings.

In the Edo period there used to be 336 shukubo on the mountain.