Yudono Yama Jinja

Yudono Yama Jinja is a mystical sacred site enshrined on Yudono Mountain, one of the Three Mountains of Dewa. It is a shrine of sacred mysteries known by the saying "speak not of it, hear not of it," and has long been revered as a holy site of ascetic Buddhism. The sacred object is a large reddish-brown boulder from which hot spring water flows forth—a mystical faith where nature itself is the deity. There is a special method of worship found nowhere else, wherein visitors remove their footwear and touch the sacred object directly. Also known as a place of spiritual rebirth, many visitors come during life transitions or when seeking a fresh start.