Yamagata

The people who practise on Dewa Sanzan are called ‘yamabushi’, and they are probably the most rigorous and stoic people in the history of Japan. They are no strangers to physical and mental endurance, as they undertake long pilgrimages under harsh natural circumstances, train under ice-cold waterfalls and extended fasting.

Yamadera is a temple located in the mountainous northeastern part of Yamagata City and it is one of the prominent temples in the Tohoku region. It was founded over a thousand years ago as a branch temple of the Enryaku-ji of Kyoto, as a branch temple for the Tendai school of Buddhism.

Yamagata City is a centrally located town within a short distance of famous sightseeing areas like Mt. Zao with its onsen, hiking spots, and winter sports area and Yamadera.