The best effort / reward ratio in Yamagata. Bar none.
Bananas and Cokes, Leaches and Pit Vipers
How a group of elderly Japanese men saved our arses
Wetland Wonderland of Takadate-yama
Takadate-yama is short in stature, but packs a lot of punch as home to one of the only RAMSAR wetlands in Japan
Gassan, the Dewa Sanzan’s “Mountain of Death” (Mt. Gassan)
The tallest Dewa Sanzan peak with a thriving Haguro Shugendo Yamabushi culture.
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.
Why This Tiny Mountain MUST be on Your Japan Itinerary: Haguro-san
Home to Haguro Shugendo and the Dewa Sanzan Yamabushi mountain monks
Dancing in the Day Lilies: Shoga-dake
Shoga-dake is a former Shugendo peak on Chokai-san famous for its floral brilliance.
Mythical Beasts, Buddha’s Mother, and buried Yamabushi treasure? Welcome to Maya-san (Mt. Maya).
More than one of the best hikes in Shonai
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 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.
Kurosawa Akira, Abe Shinzo, The Kami of War, and a flock of geese?
Mountain that marks the entrance to the Kamuro Alps
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. IS. YAMAGARTA: Japan’s 300 Moment.
How this tiny peak turned feudal Japan’s biggest battle on its head
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