We Are Tomodachi Winter 2018

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31Sites of WorshipOn Mt. Haguro stands a five-story pago-da said to be built in the tenth century that is one of Japan's National Treasures. In the surroundings are colonnades of Japanese cedar trees 350 to 500 years old, with some reaching 1,000 years of age and 10 meters (33 feet) in circumfer-ence. The customary style of worship is to visit all three of the sacred mountains, beginning with Mt. Haguro. However, as Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono are closed off during the winter months, people often visit only Mt. Haguro to venerate the spir-its of all three mountains.© Haguro Tourist Association