Mount Daisen in Tottori Prefecture is the largest mountain in the Chugoku region of western Honshu. An isolated peak with views over the Sea of Japan, the mountain stands at 1,729 meters and gets plenty of snow in the winter, making it one of the preferred destination for skiers and boarders living in nearby Hiroshima, Osaka and Kyoto.
But the chance to ski with a view of the sea ought to draw winter-sports enthusiasts from further afield, and the mountain's fascinating history as a spiritual center provides a cultural dimension you won't find at the average ski resort.
The mountain has long been an area of worship; this year there will be extended celebrations to mark its 1,300 years of history. In the Heian Period (794-1185), Mount Daisen was a major center for the practice of Shugendo, a form of mountain worship that incorporates elements of Shintoism, Buddhism and Taoism. More than a hundred temples stood on the mountain and thousands of monks lived in the forests there, practicing mountain asceticism and training in martial arts.
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