[Gassan, Nishimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture] Can you ski in midsummer? The season at Gassan Ski Resort starts once it gets warmer

Mount Gassan, Mount Haguro, and Mount Yudono are known as the "Three Mountains of Dewa" and are known as mountains of mountain worship

Since Mt. Gassan is said to be a place of prayer for happiness in the past life, Mt. Haguro is a place of prayer for happiness in the present life, and Mt. Yudono is a place of prayer for happiness in the next life, a journey to the Dewa Sanzan mountains is said to be a "journey of reincarnation."

There is a saying that goes, "Pilgrimage to Ise in the west, pilgrimage to Oku in the east," and it is famous as a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Mount Gassan, the highest peak of the Dewa Sanzan, is where Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto is enshrined, and as a god symbolizing the moon, he is said to be in charge of resurrection from the afterlife

Gassan is a sacred mountain, and is also one of the "100 Famous Mountains of Japan" and "100 Famous Flower Mountains." It is a popular spot for many hikers, as you can enjoy the flowers and views from the gentle ridgeline

In this article, we will introduce Mt. Gassan, which is famous for being a place where you can enjoy summer skiing right up until the height of summer when the flowers bloom in abundance, as well as some recommended spots nearby

Please read to the end

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When can you start skiing at Gassan Ski Resort?

You may have seen videos of people skiing in the mountains in summer, and with the mountains covered in green in the background and skiers wearing sunglasses and short sleeves, you may wonder what season it is

On Mt. Gassan, skiing is permitted from April, and the ski season runs from April to July

The ski season normally starts in winter, so why does it start in April? It's because the roads to the ski resorts are closed due to heavy snowfall

Snow removal finally begins in the spring, and the road becomes passable in April

Spring and summer skiing marks the start of the season when Mt. Gassan, which has been sleeping under the snow during the winter, wakes up and welcomes many skiers and mountain climbers

INFORMATION

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• Address: Ubazawa, Shizu, Nishikawa-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-0734 
• Closing time: 4:30 PM
• Phone: 0237-75-2025

GOOGLE MAP

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Even if you don't ski, the sacred Mt. Gassan is worth a visit!

Gassan, which flourished as a place of mountain worship, still has people climbing to the summit dressed in white robes

The main shrine at the summit of Gassan Shrine has been a special sacred area since ancient times, and photography is prohibited. Before entering, you must receive a purification ritual from the chief priest

Gassan is not to be missed in summer either

There is still enough snow on the mountain that you can ski in the summer, but during the short summer mountain opening period, rare alpine plants such as black lilies and water lilies bloom in full bloom, and you can enjoy hiking that feels like another world

Summer passes by in the blink of an eye, and by mid-September the mountainside begins to turn red with autumn leaves, providing a moment of color before it is covered in snow

You can get to the 8th station by car or bus, and the "Haguro Course" which is a gentle path from there to the summit is apparently popular among hikers

It takes just over three hours to get from the 8th station parking lot to the summit, with an elevation difference of about 500m

The view from the summit at an altitude of 1,984m, which can be reached by walking along the Midagahara Wetlands promenade and passing through a rocky area known as "Gyoja-gaeshi," is breathtaking, and the panoramic view of the Sea of ​​Japan in the distance is definitely worth seeing

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Has meltwater from Mt. Gassan gushed forth as a hot spring?

The Shizu district of Nishikawa town, located at the foot of Mt. Gassan, has long been a popular post town for mountain worshippers of the Dewa Sanzan (Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono)

Its use as a post town dating back to the Edo period had been declining year by year, but the hot springs that began to spring up in 1989 and the abundant natural blessings of the area have brought new charm to the historic Shizu area and to Gassan in winter

The spring water is highly salty and is popular as a "beauty skin bath" that warms the body from the inside out

The spring quality is sodium chloride spring water, and it is said to be effective in treating chronic skin diseases, neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue

INFORMATION

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• Name: Shizu Onsen (Gassan Shizu Onsenkyo)
• Location: Shizu, Nishikawa-machi, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
• Price: Day trip bathing fee: 500 to 800 yen (price set by each accommodation)
• Accommodation fee: (1 night with 2 meals) from 9,800 yen (prices vary by accommodation)
• Access: Approximately 10 minutes by car from Gassan IC on the Yamagata Expressway
• For inquiries, please contact: Gassan Asahi Tourism Association
• Phone number: 0237-74-4119

GOOGLE MAP

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summary

Contrary to the notion that skiing is only a winter sport, Mt. Gassan has a rare ski resort where the ski season begins in the spring and you can ski right into summer

Fans who have been waiting for the ski resort to open in the spring are visiting from all over the country, and they are also able to warm up their cold bodies at Shizu Onsen at the foot of the mountain, killing two birds with one stone

From the end of the ski season, Mt. Gassan also seems to be bustling with visitors seeking the magnificent scenery and fields of alpine flowers

No matter what season you visit the sacred Mt. Gassan, except for the harsh winter, you are sure to be healed both physically and mentally by the blessings of nature

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