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Discover Mt. Mitoku and its spectacular cliffside temple on this unique pilgrimage in rural Japan
Misasa Town, Tottori Prefecture
Situated in Misasa Town, Tottori Prefecture, Mt. Mitoku is one of Japan’s most sacred sites for shugendo (ascetic practice). Mt. Mitoku was known as a holy place for shugendo more than 1,300 years ago. For centuries, monks and pilgrims have made pilgrimages here to purify their minds and bodies by climbing step by step surrounded by nature until they reach the Nageire-do, a famous cliffside temple.
To make the experience of climbing Mt. Mitoku even more exciting and unique, don an authentic shugendo followers’ outfit and tread the same trails as past pilgrims. This rental service is available to anyone, but be sure to make a reservation with Mt. Mitoku’s Sanbutsuji temple beforehand.
How to get there
From Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Super Hakuto Limited Express train to Kurayoshi Station (about 3 hours). From Kurayoshi Station, take the city bus to Mt. Mitoku (about 45 minutes).
Mitoku, Misasa-cho, Touhaku-gun, Tottori-ken