ascetic disciplinary practice grounds. Many ascetics and yamabushi believe they have not completed their pilgrimage, and thus entered the holy land, until they have reached Mount Yudono. Mount Yudono is famous for its goshintai, a sacred object believed to be directly connected to a god. The shrine on Yudono is also revered as hallowed land which must be kept secret, and even today, photography and video recordings are prohibited. See also Dewa Mountains References Earhart, H. Byron. (1965). Four ritual periods of Haguro shugendo in northeastern Japan. History of Religions, 5(1), 93-113. Earhart, H. Byron. (1968). The celebration of "Haru-Yama" (Spring Mountain): An example of folk religious practices in contemporary Japan. Asian Folklore Studies, 27(1), 1-24 Hori, Ichiro. (1966) Mountains and their importance for the idea of the other world in Japanese folk religion. History of Religions, 6(1), 1-23 External links Dewa Sanzan Guide Dewa Sanzan Shrine Haguro (Dewa Sanzan) Travel Guide Dewa Sanzan | Welcome to Yamagata Japan National Tourism Organization | Yamagata | Dewa Sanzan Dewa Sanzan Monzenmachi Project Website Yamabushi Training on The Dewa Sanzan Shinto shrines in Yamagata Prefecture Dewa Pagodas in Japan Mountain faith Beppyo shrines