Haguro, just outside of Tsuruoka city in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. People from around Japan and the world come to stay here when they want to explore the beautiful trails of Dewa Sanzan. The host of Daishōbō is Master Fumihiro Hoshino, respectfully referred to as Hoshino-Sendatsu. He is a fourteenth generation ascetic guide and has led countless visitors and pilgrims through Dewa Sanzan. While p
ilgrim lodges, referred to in Japanese as shukubō, were, in past years, reserved mostly for insiders, contemporary shukubō have opened up to outsiders to in order to fulfill the growing spiritual needs of lay people seeking to rekindle their bond with nature. Daishōbō is renowned for providing excellent accommodation and traditional vegetarian meals and also provides religious services including morning worship, Buddhist and Shinto incantations, exorcisms and the distribution of talisman. About Dewa Sanzan
Dewa Sanzan is a sacred mountain range in northeastern Japan consisting of Mt. It is renowned for its biodiversity, mystical scenery, and rituals of spiritual rebirth. Traditionally and among select groups today, Dewa Sanzan is a unique hub of animistic Shinto and Buddhist fusion, where different forms of Japanese spirituality blend into one. Recently, Tsuruoka City, which includes the shukubō community of Mt. Haguro, achieved UNESCO designation as a Creative City of Gastronomy for it culinary innovation. Shōjin ryori, the vegetarian cuisine served to pilgrims who visit Dewa Sanzan, contributed greatly to this designation. About Yamabushi
People who commit to the ascetic practices in Dewa Sanzan are known as yamabushi (山伏), which can be translated as mountain ascetic. Yamabushi empower their spirits by training their bodies on the mountain slopes and through various secret rituals. The core idea of the yamabushi practices is symbolic death and rebirth through ascetic practice. They view the three mountains as representing the past, the present, and the future. By traversing the mountains during their training, they enact a transformation from one life, to a new incarnation and even enlightenment. The spiritual practice of the yamabushi also involves praying in the mountains for world peace and renewed connection between nature and humankind. Every summer, more than two hundred yamabushi partake in this ancient practice. Daishōbō has become a hot spot for new yamabushi because Master Hoshino has designed a three-day weekend training course to accommodate the busy schedules of our modern work life.
