Philosophy

THE EXPERIENCE

Trainings involve hiking, meditation, contemplation, and other secret rituals in some of the most breathtaking landscapes Japan has to offer.

PRACTICAL

Yamabushi in white Shiroshozoku carrying a kongozue stickwalk down a foggy mountain path on Mt. Gassan, one of the three Dewa Sanzan peaks

The experience is a genuine rite of passage. It is very practical and full of insights you will take back into your daily life.

You don’t need to believe it. You just need to do it.

TRANSFORMATIVE

Dressed all in white, Yamabushi led by Master Hoshino on a yamabushi training experience walk along the stone stairway between the cedars of Mt. Haguro, one of the three Dewa Sanzan mountains in north Japan

Participants often mention that the Yamabushi experience gives them a new perspective on their life, and an awareness for living more thoughtfully.

SPACE AND SILENCE

The shrine gates of Mt. Yudono one of the dewa sanzan mountains in Japan during a yamabushi training experience run by yamabushi Master Hoshino

In our busy world, there’s not much space or silence. Yamabushi training gives you that. You’ll be in the mountains of Japan far away from tourists. You don’t need to speak Japanese. The training is mostly conducted in silence. You’ll be immersed in the most genuine and total Japanese experience.

SPIRIT OF UKETAMO

Participants on a yamabushido program walk into Saikan lodging at the summit of Mt. Haguro. Saikan's distinct roof shape and the shimenawa ropes create an image of olden day Japan

At the heart of our approach is the philosophy of Uketamo. Uketamo is an idea unique to the yamabushi of northern Japan about living a life of bravery and acceptance.

We teach you how it works.

WHAT IS YAMABUSHIDO?

Yamabushido participants during an experience on Mt. Haguro led by Daishinbo pilgrim's lodge's Hayasaka Kazuhiro walking on Mt. Haguro's stone stairway

Yamabushido is our evolution of yamabushi practice, focused at delivering the genuine experience, but adapted to an international audience.

We are practicing yamabushi ourselves, but we also live in the 21st century. We have adapted and updated the principles of the yamabushi into our trainings to better connect with the needs of people today.

DEWA SANZAN

There are three sacred mountains in Yamagata. Together they are called Dewa Sanzan. This is the heart of Yamabushi country. These are the mountains on which we train.

We are blessed to train in some of the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring landscapes all over Japan.

EXCLUSIVE AND ESOTERIC

Master Hayasaka of Daishinbo pilgrim's lodge on Mt. Haguro gazes over the city of Tsuruoka from Mt. Gassan, one of the Dewa Sanzan mountains and a place of spiritual practice for centuries

Yamabushi training is little-known, even within Japan. We carefully select those able to join. You’ll be joining an exclusive group when you come on an experience with us.

INSIDER ACCESS

yamabushi walk past mt. haguro of the dewa sanzan's five story pagoda led on a training by daishobo pilgrim lodge's master fumihiro hoshino

We live locally and have deep connections with the local community. You’ll experience things not available to most visitors. This is a very niche world, and to get the most of it you need to know people.

We know people.

YAMABUSHI MASTERS

Master yamabushi Fumihiro Hoshino of Daishobo pilgrim's lodge on Mt. Haguro of the Dewa Sanzan

Master yamabushi Kazuhiro Hayasaka of Daishinbo pilgrim's lodge on Mt. Haguro of the Dewa Sanzan

We work with, and have learned from the longest traditions of Yamabushi masters in Japan. Our signature training includes training under Master Hoshino. Master Hoshino’s philosophy of life inspires all our trainings, and he only works with us.

We also work alongside 17th-generation Master Hayasaka and other senior Dewa Sanzan yamabushi.

INTERNATIONAL YAMABUSHI

International Dewa Sanzan Yamabushi Masters Tim Bunting Tak Kato Kohei Kojima and Rick Erdman at Daishobo pilgrim's lodge after the Akinomine autumn's peak ritual

Our team is made up of bilingual yamabushi. We have the experience, the knowledge, and the teachings from the mountains. Many of the things we’ll show you have previously only been available in Japanese. We will be there for your whole training, but we won’t be holding your hand.