Mount Haguro is one of the three Mountains of Dewa in the city of Tsuruoka which is one of the ancient province of Dewa with a domain consisting of modern-day which is Yamagata Prefecture and Akita prefecture, Japan. It is the lowest of the three mountains which stands at 414 metre or 1,358 Ft which is the only way to access throughout the year. There is a path build up of stairs in 2,446 stone steps and it leads to the summit which is made of 600-year-old sugi trees. In the past, the famous Gojunoto which is a five storey pagoda and the Grandpa cedar is the 1000 years old cedar trees with numerous shrines. The steps and pagodas are very much from the summit and make a pathway to the Haguro-San shrine, the only of the three Dewa Sanzan shrines which is open all the years around.
Haguro-san is one of the easiest visit because it leads to a toll road which gives visitors an easy access and a person can reach the top by the car or by bus. The traditional and very much recommended approach is just to reach there by walking and it leads through a cedar forest which brings prosperity to the person to anyone who finds the 33 figures carved into the stone. There are several attractions which is located along with the walking trail upto Haguro-san. Also, at the trailhead stands Ideha museum with good information along with the exhibits on Shugendo which is a folk religion based on mountain worship.
It is about ten minutes into walking trail which stands with a five storied pagoda and is surrounded by the cedars. It is a classical text states that the national treasure was first built in 937 and the steps lead to the teahouse which offers tired hikers water along with tea and snacks along with a free hiking certificate. One can stay at Haguro-san’s shrine with the temple offers and temple lodging. Also, the stay at Saikin province visitors with some simple accommodation in a Tatami room with dinner and breakfast with Buddhist vegetarian cuisine and with opportunity of watching the shrine’s early morning ceremony.
There are certain fees to watch the museum and the hours are early morning to late noon with Tuesday being a day when it is closed and the admission fees is 400 Yen which may vary. Similarly other museums in the vicinity also have a charge to pay and thus get close to the nature and artefacts.