Overview

Step into over 300 years of spiritual tradition at Daishinbo, a pilgrim’s lodge at the base of the sacred Dewa Sanzan mountains. Operated by a family of yamabushi (mountain monks), Daishinbo welcomes you into a world shaped by centuries of devotion, ritual, and reverence. The lodge’s historic architecture includes original foundations and wooden beams dating back to the Edo period. Here, you don’t just stay—you enter the rhythm of a place where nature, spirituality, and hospitality come together.

Accommodation

At Daishinbo, you stay in your own Japanese-style room. You won’t share with strangers, whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or as part of a group. The rooms are peaceful and traditional, ideal for quiet reflection or family time.

Each room includes:

• Tatami floors and futon bedding
• Air conditioning and heating
• Wi-Fi access
• Shared bathrooms with shampoo and toiletries
• Yukata, towels, toothbrushes, and sleepwear
• Some rooms have private sinks and toilets

Families with children, school trips, and company retreats are all welcome. The lodge includes both small and larger partitionable rooms to suit different needs.

Dining

Daishinbo prepares every Shojin Ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) meal by hand, using seasonal mountain vegetables and mushrooms gathered from the nearby beech forests. You’ll taste traditional ingredients like zenmai (flowering fern), kogomi (ostrich fern), udo, and warabi (bracken fiddleheads), all served with care and intention.

What sets Daishinbo’s cuisine apart:

• Meals include fish on occasion, reflecting the kami-based worship of the Dewa Sanzan
• Every dish honors the natural cycle of the seasons
• Sesame tofu (goma dofu), made from a secret recipe, is a signature favorite
• All meals are prepared lovingly by the proprietress and her daughter, continuing a culinary legacy handed down through generations.

Onsen and Wellness

After a day exploring or taking part in rituals, you can relax in the lodge’s shared bath. The water doesn’t come from a hot spring, but the spacious bath area offers a place to refresh and unwind. Let the warmth ease your body after a long journey or spiritual training.

Guests with Tattoos

You are welcome to bathe, regardless of whether you have tattoos. This is a spiritual space rooted in inclusivity and tradition.

Facilities

Daishinbo includes everything you need for a comfortable stay while embracing the spiritual culture of Dewa Sanzan:

• Main Hall & Altar: The spiritual center of the lodge where morning rituals take place.
• New Building Rooms: Medium and large Japanese-style spaces, some with sliding screens for privacy.
• Bath Area: A shared facility where you can wash and soak.
• Halls of Worship: Dedicated halls including Daikoku-sama, Haguro Kan’on Hall, and Matsurido.
• Memorial Monuments: Visit commemorative structures including a monument to Matsuo Basho and a Kuyo tower.

Activities

You’re invited to participate in Daishinbo’s morning ritual, a prayer ceremony held in the main hall. During this ceremony, the head monk prays for your health and happiness, calling your name at the altar. If you like, you can request special prayers and receive an amulet.

Interested in a deeper experience? Ask about the Dewa Sanzan retreats offered by the Yamabushido team, which include pilgrimages and mountain practices in English.

Additional Features

• Private Japanese-style rooms for individuals and groups
• Shojin Ryori meals made by hand from seasonal mountain ingredients
• Morning rituals with individual blessings
• Optional prayer requests and amulets
• Shared bath to relax after a long day
• Free Wi-Fi in all rooms
• Seasonal operation (closed from November to early April)
• Located one minute from the Sakura Koji bus stop

Nearby Attractions

• Five-Story Pagoda of Mt. Haguro: A National Treasure and the oldest pagoda in the Tohoku region, surrounded by towering cedar trees.
• Stone Stairway & Cedar Avenue: Climb the 2,446 steps to the shrine through a majestic forest pathway.
• Gassan Plateau Line: Drive or hike through sweeping mountain views to the eighth station of Mt. Gassan.
• Midagahara Wetlands: A highland wetland with wildflowers, mosses, and mountain plants unique to the area.
• Gassan Jinja Hongu: A sacred shrine atop Mt. Gassan dedicated to Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.
• Mt. Yudono: A spiritual site with no shrine building, only a hot spring regarded as the deity itself. Photography and discussion of the location are traditionally forbidden.

Getting There

• By Train: From Tokyo, travel via Niigata to Tsuruoka Station (approx. 3 hrs 45 mins), then take a 25-minute taxi.
• By Car: About 500 km from Tokyo via the Tohoku and Yamagata Expressways.
• By Plane: Fly from Haneda to Shonai Airport, then drive about 40 minutes.

Important Notes

• Solo female travelers are welcome. Rooms have locks for safety.
• Car parking is available for about 30 vehicles.
• No shuttle service from the train station is provided.
• Phones may be used normally unless you’re taking part in specific spiritual training.