Mt. Gassan in summer

Dewa Sanzan (Three Mountains of Dewa) comprises of Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono, representing the present (birth), the past (death), and the future (rebirth) respectively. The mountains are usually visited in this order as a pilgrimage of rebirth by Shugendo practitioners called Yamabushi (mountain monks). This story of "A Journey to Rebirth" in the Three Mountains of Dewa was elected as one of Japan's National Heritage Site.
These mountains are the sacred centre of Shugendo religion, a folk religion based on mountain worship, where Yamabushi undergo training. In order to survive in the mountains, the Yamabushi sustained on wild vegetables which also helped to shape the Shojin Ryori that is served to pilgrims and visitors of the mountains.
The mountains were also believed to enshrine the gods of agriculture. History tells us that a myriad of worshippers paid visits to Dewa Sanzan, carrying vegetable seeds to exchange in the mountains, bringing about a new food culture to the city which has evolved into local traditions.