Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-07 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Gassan Shrine stands on Mount Gassan in Yamagata, the tallest of the Three Mountains of Dewa, whose name means “Moon Mountain”. Said to have been founded in 593, it is dedicated to Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto, the Shinto moon god, and was formerly a national shrine of the first rank. Its main festival is held every year on 14 August. The mountain is known for its scenery and many rare alpine and marsh plants.
Because of heavy snow, the mountain can usually be reached only from late spring to early autumn. Yudonosan Shrine is about 3.5 km away. We have not checked trails, buses or this year's season, so check local information and the weather before you go.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Gassan jinja — ChiefHira · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Precincts of Gassan jinja — ChiefHira · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Gassan jinja Gate — ChiefHira · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Gassan honguu torii — Soica2001 ( talk ) · Public domain · source · resized
- Gassan — ChiefHira · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Mt. Gassan Shrine 2006-10-28 — Geomr · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Gassan Shrine (月山神社, Gassan jinja) is a Shinto shrine on Mount Gassan in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It was formerly a national shrine of the first rank (国幣大社, kokuhei taisha) in the Modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines. The main kami enshrined here is Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto (月読命), the Shinto moon god. It was established in 593. The shrine's main festival is held annually on August 14. Mount Gassan is the tallest of the Three Mountains of Dewa and is famous for its natural scenery and beauty. The kanji for Gassan literally translates to "Moon Mountain". It is home to many rare alpine plants and other marsh vegetation. The hiking path to the peak of Mt. Gassan is the second-highest point in the Shonai Region of Japan. However, due to heavy snowfall, the mountain is usually accessible only from late spring to early fall.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-07 · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Shrine
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
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