Mt. Haguro is the seat of one the two main Shugendo orders and the wooded peak has some of the most massive and beautiful temples in all of Japan. Bus transportation is available yet most pilgrims prefer the traditional footpath leading to the summit. Beginning near the 600 year old, five-storied pagoda, the path winds its way through an enchanted forest of ancient cedars and cryptomerias while ascending 2,446 finely sculpted stone steps. After visiting Haguro, white-robed pilgrims trek upward through the mountain forests to the shrines of Gassan and Yudono. The deity of Yudono lives, not in a building, but in a hot water fall.
Pilgrims take off their shoes, and some their clothes, to bathe in the sacred cascade.
The three sacred peaks attract pilgrims during spring, summer, and fall, with the largest Haguro festival being held on July 15.