Why This Tiny Mountain MUST be on Your Japan Itinerary: Haguro-san
Home to Haguro Shugendo and the Dewa Sanzan Yamabushi mountain monks
The Swamp Monster of Yozo
Ancient trail of primeval beech forests, legendary swamp monsters, waterfalls, snow bridges, and more.
The Sakura of Arakura-yama
Mountains of Sakura Cherry Blossoms and the serene Arakura Jinja await.
The Widow’s Peak: Ubaga-take (Mt. Ubagatake) of North Japan
Must-see autumn alpine dreamland between the two tallest Dewa Sanzan peaks with a twisted backstory
Zao-san and Why We Climb Mountains (Mt. Zao)
Zao-san: Snow monsters, ski fields, mountain hags, multi-coloured crater lakes, hot springs, and more.
Homer Simpson’s Heaven in North Japan: The Donut-shaped Yonetaihei-san (Mt. Yonetaihei)
Tiny donut-shaped peak in Sakegawa Village of the Mogami region worthy of a snowshoe hike.
Hiking Japan’s Forgotten Highway: Sabane-yama and Ushu-Kaido (Mt. Sabane)
The odd connection between Osaka castle, the Shinkansen and Shinjuku, and the mountains of Yamagata.
THIS. IS. YAMAGARTA: Japan’s 300 Moment.
How this tiny peak turned feudal Japan’s biggest battle on its head
The Pyramids of… Japan? — Yakushi-san and The OG Japan content creator (Mt. Yakushi)
Small pyramidal peak in the northern Yamagata town of Kaneyama
The Epitome of Autumn Leaves in North Japan: Taizo-san (Mt. Taizo)
Mount Taizo all but single-handedly confirms why autumn is by far the best season for hiking in Japan.
Turtles, Tigers, and a Legendary Japanese Character: Kamewari-yama (Mt. Kamewari)
Legendary location next to a quaint Onsen (hot spring) resort along the Oguni River in Mogami Town
The best Fuji alternative: Chokai-san
Dewa Fuji, The Fuji of The North, Chokai-san, Mt. Chokai: Tallest peak entirely in Tohoku often said to resemble Mt. Fuji, leading to the name Dewa Fuji (after the former province of Dewa).
This mountain is EVERYWHERE in Japan: Ha-yama
Former Dewa Sanzan peak in inland Yamagata Prefecture with an extensive Shugendo and Mountain Worship history.
The Dewa Sanzan’s Mountain of Rebirth: Yudono-san (Mt. Yudono)
Yudono-san is the final Dewa Sanzan peak in the middle of Yamagata Prefecture that has been a central destination for millions over the centuries