Yudono San Pilgrimage and Sokushinbutsu

Yudono San, the inner shrine of Dewa Sanzan, is a mysterious sacred place known by the saying 'speak not, ask not,' where the deity can only be known through actual worship. The unique practice of walking the sacred path barefoot offers a mystical experience unlike anywhere else. The Shonai region is home to six temples enshrining sokushinbutsu (mummified Buddhas), a rarity throughout Japan, where you can view them closely at places such as Dainichibou and Churenji. The figures of ascetic monks who left their flesh to become Buddhas convey the profound faith of Shugendo to the present day.