News

The sacred mountains of Dewa Sanzan have been spotlighted in The Independent (UK) as a meaningful alternative to Japan’s mainstream tourist spots. In an article published on March 19, 2025, travel writer Rob Goss recommends the Dewa Sanzan for travelers seeking deeper cultural immersion and spiritual connection, in contrast to more well-known destinations like Kyoto or Koyasan.

The journalist mentions his personal Yamabushi training experience in 2019. You too can try joining the Yamabushi for a spiritual experience or a fully-immersive training with one of our travel agencies.

Read the full article here: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/japan/japan-destination-swaps-b2717375.html

Take part in Yamabushi trainings or experience with our local travel agencies:

-Yamabushido, full-inclusive Yamabushi training: https://www.yamabushido.jp/

-Shoko Travel, short introduction to the Yamabushi culture through experiences: https://en.shoko-travel.jp/

-Tsuruoka Join, tailored experiences and tours with Yamabushi encounters: https://tsuruokajoin.com/

-The Northern Heart of Japan, luxury tours with Yamabushi encounters : https://northernheartjapan.com/

For more tourist information about the Dewa Sanzan shrine:

www.thedewasanzan.com

The cherry blossoms (sakura 桜 in Japanese) are in full bloom in central Tsuruoka, especially in Tsuruoka Park, Matsugaoka’s Reclamation Lands (the “Samura Silk Farms”) and Oyama Park!

To know the latest news about the sakura-spots in Tsuruoka, follow our Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/tsuruokadewa

We are pleased to announce that the hiking trail from Mt. Gassan to Mt. Yudono, which was recently damaged by heavy rainfall, has now been cleared, and the warning measures have been lifted.

However, we would like to remind all visitors that this part of the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage can be challenging. The route includes descending metal ladders, which can become slippery depending on the weather. This section of the trail can also be physically demanding, especially for those with less hiking experience.

Please exercise caution, take your time, and prioritize your safety. We wish you a safe and enjoyable hiking experience in the beautiful Dewa Sanzan mountains. 🌄

(UPDATE: The following message does not apply anymore as of the 1st of August, 2024)

Recently, record-breaking heavy rains have caused significant damage in the Tohoku region on the Japan Sea side, resulting in landslides along some sections of the Mt. Gassan to Mt. Yudono pilgrimage trail (including the upper part of Yudono-san Kamman Falls).

As of July 29, recovery work is underway. However, the affected area has become extremely narrow, making passage very dangerous.

For those planning to hike:

1. Please refrain from starting your hike from the Yudono-san side.
2. When descending from Mt. Gassan to the Yudono-san side, please go down toward the Shizu area.

We kindly ask for your cooperation. We will provide updates as the situation changes.

(information provided by the Dewa Sanzan shrine)

＊Live distribution for the year 2024 has ended.

Live cameras have been installed at four locations on Mt. Gassan for a limited period in 2024 and are now operational.

Mt. Gassan Live Cameras in 2024 – https://canview.oidgear.jp/contents/00004/gassan8.html

The live cameras are installed at the following locations. Please refer to the weather and traffic conditions if you plan to visit Mt. Gassan.
● Gassan 8th station parking lot
● Gassan 8th station bus parking lot
● View from Gassan Busshoike Hut (9th station)
● Snow ravine view from Gassan Busshoike Hut (9th station)

As of July 1, 2024, there is a snow ravine approximately 100m near the 9th station and 200m near the summit. Please bring light crampons or trekking poles.

Due to a review of product prices, we have temporarily hidden the “Book with us” items. We plan to re-list them when they are ready. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

National Treasure Mt. Haguro Five-Story Pagoda: The shingled roof has been under renovation since last year. The scaffolding was dismantled in November in preparation for the winter season, but construction is expected to resume on May 13 (Mon.), 2024.

Construction schedule for 2024: May 13 (Mon.) to September 30 (Mon.), 2024.
*The schedule may change depending on weather and other conditions.

The Haguro Tourist Association has been providing information on the construction status since last year on their official website.
●Haguro Tourist Association (Japanese notation)

“Notice of the roof repair work schedule for the five-story pagoda in 2024 has been announced.”

During the construction, mesh nets will be installed along with the scaffolding, but they are surprisingly visible from nearby. You might be able to witness a rare construction scene. Please let us know if you spot it 😏.

At the tourist information center, we offer free bicycle rentals for our sightseeing guests. Rentals are available for the day only. Please return the bicycle to the same location where you borrowed it. Have a good trip by bicycle!
*Please present a form of identification when borrowing.

[Rental/Return Location]
●Tsuruoka City Tourist Information Center, inside FOODEVER in front of Tsuruoka Station
●Rental Period: Mid-March to late November
*Rentals for 2024 will commence from March 20th (Wednesday)
●Rental Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
●Number of Bicycles Available: 20

●Adult-sized bicycles only.
●Advance reservations are not accepted. Unfortunately, if all items are on loan, they cannot be checked out.

●Please observe the traffic rules in Japan.
●No rentals are available from December to March during the winter season.
●The rental period may vary depending on snow conditions.

Dear valued visitors and residents of Tsuruoka City,

We are thrilled to announce that our official website, www.tsuruokacity.com, has undergone a major transformation to enhance your online experience! The renewed website is now live and packed with exciting features, resources, and information to better serve our community and visitors.

Here’s what you can expect from the new and improved www.tsuruokacity.com:

• Fresh Look: Our website has received a modern and user-friendly design for easy navigation and accessibility, based on the Japanese version of our website (www.tsuruokakanko.com)
• Enhanced Content: Explore updated information about Tsuruoka City, its culture, attractions, services, and more. We’ve added new sections and improved existing ones.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Enjoy a seamless experience on your mobile devices with responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes.
• Tourism Highlights: Plan your visit with ease using the enriched tourist information section, which includes event calendars, travel tips, and cultural insights.
• Online reservation platform: We understand that traveling to remote areas in Japan is not an easy task, especially when so many restaurants, hotels and service providers still only accept reservations by phone AND in Japanese! We developed an online booking platform for our customers abroad to use.

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone involved in this project, as well as to all our website users for your continued support. We hope that the renewed website will be a valuable resource for both our community and visitors.

Explore the new www.tsuruokacity.com today and discover all that Tsuruoka City has to offer. We welcome your feedback and suggestions to help us continue improving our online presence.

Thank you for being part of our vibrant community, and we look forward to serving you better through our renewed website!

Warm regards,

DEGAM Tsuruoka Tourism Bureau

www.tsuruokacity.com

Mt. Haguro’s pagoda’s bare construction is now visible without its scaffolding!

Mt. Haguro’s Five-Storied Pagoda, a National Treasure, is undergoing renovation works since May 2023. Those works that have to happen every 20 years will resume in spring 2025. However, the scaffolding that is covering the pagoda all-year-round is removed for the snowy season (as snow would be too heavy and make the scaffolding break down). This year, the scaffolding have been removed on November 8th. They will be back at the end of the snowy season (late April, early May). So if you want to see Mt. Haguro’s pagoda mother-naked, now is the time to go!

Due to an increasing number of no-show no-payment incidents, we stopped taking reservation for free on behalf of customers.

Due to an increasing number of customers not showing up on their reservation date and not paying the cancellation fees, DEGAM Tsuruoka Tourism Bureau stopped taking reservation/booking requests for free on behalf of customers until further notice. To ask for assistance for reservation making, please use the services of a travel agency or make the reservation online through an online booking service.
We apologize for the inconvenience. We aim to increase the coverage of online booking services in our city very soon.
Thank you for your understanding.

Mt. Haguro’s pagoda will be under maintenance works from May 2023 to May 2025 outside the winter season.

Mt. Haguro’s pagoda will be under maintenance works from May 2023 to May 2025. Scaffolds, tarps and other devices might hinder the view on the pagoda. However, the scaffolding will be removed during snowy season so our visitors can appreciate the view of the snowy pagoda as usual.

Von Mai 2023 bis Mai 2025 werden Wartungsarbeiten am Turm des Berges Hagurosan durchgeführt. Gerüste und Planen können die Sicht auf den Turm behindern, aber während der Schneesaison werden die Gerüste entfernt, so dass der Turm wie gewohnt im Schnee besichtigt werden kann.

Se realizarán trabajos de mantenimiento en la torre del monte Hagurosan de mayo de 2023 a mayo de 2025. Es posible que andamios y lonas obstruyan la visión de la torre, pero durante la temporada de nieve se retirarán los andamios para que la torre pueda verse nevada como de costumbre.

Travaux d’entretien de la tour du Mont Hagurosan de mai 2023 à mai 2025. Des échafaudages et des bâches peuvent obstruer la vue de la tour, mais pendant la saison des neiges, les échafaudages seront enlevés afin que la tour puisse être vue dans la neige comme d’habitude.

하구로산의 탑은 2023년 5월부터 2025년 5월까지 유지보수 공사를 실시합니다. 비계와 방수포 등이 탑의 조망을 방해할 수 있지만, 적설기에는 비계를 철거하기 때문에 평소와 같이 눈 덮인 탑을 감상할 수 있다.

เจดีย์ Haguroyama จะปิดปรับปรุงตั้งแต่เดือนพฤษภาคม 2023 ถึงเดือนพฤษภาคม 2025 นั่งร้านและผ้าใบกันน้ำอาจบดบังทัศนียภาพของหอคอย แต่จะมีการถอดนั่งร้านออกในช่วงฤดูหิมะ คุณจึงสามารถเพลิดเพลินกับหอคอยที่ปกคลุมไปด้วยหิมะได้ตามปกติ

羽黑山塔將於 2023 年 5 月至 2025 年 5 月進行維護工作。腳手架和防水布可能會擋住塔的視線，但雪季時腳手架會被拆除，所以您可以像往常一樣欣賞白雪皚皚的塔。

Here are our terms & conditions

The linked file is in Japanese. We apologize for the inconvenience.

●Travel Conditions
https://c573fc01-bbdd-435d-80dd-82f7507ed19c.filesusr.com/ugd/2959cf_0ccac4005093494f835e2c688dba407f.pdf

●Offered package tour contract
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nJjtWGPCMnhC-MEW3XV4P3XXTO84ZhOy/view?usp=sharing

●Travel Consultation Contract
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PoLgP_XFGnN5axJOirke8lFmrNf7Qp_L/view?usp=sharing

●Special Compensation Rules
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g6ikEiAyxE3vDJe4nryaq5dptEnwKfeS/view?usp=sharing