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How to travel between Dewa Sanzan and Tokyo
By air:
ANA operates four daily flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Shonai Airport near the Dewa Sanzan. Flight duration is 60 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 21,000 yen, however, discount tickets are typically available for between 13,000 and 17,000 yen. With a Japan Air Pass, you can fly for even less. Buses connect Shonai Airport with JR Tsuruoka Station (30 minutes, 740 yen one way).
By train:
Take the JR Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata (2 hours) and then a limited express train from Niigata to Tsuruoka (2 hours). The entire one way trip takes around 4 hours, costs about 13,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
By highway bus:
Shonai Kotsu operates one night bus per day between Tokyo (Shibuya, Ikebukuro Stations) and Tsuruoka Station. The one way journey takes 9 hours and costs 7,540 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 13,570 yen and must be used within 7 days.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
JR Tsuruoka Station is the transportation hub of the Dewa Sanzan region with bus connections to all three mountains, Haguro-san (40 minutes to the base, 60 minutes to the summit), Gas-san (120 minutes to the 8th Station via Haguro) and Yudono-san (80 minutes).
Public transportation in Dewa Sanzan is limited by the season due to heavy snowfall and shrine closures. Gas-san has the shortest season of the three shrines (July to mid September), and as such, dictates the best time to visit.
Buses to Gas-san run daily from July to late August and on weekends in September. Buses to Yudono-san run from late April to early November, while only Haguro-san is served around the year. Visit each mountain's page for more details.
A convenient alternative to the infrequent bus service is a rental car. A private car also makes Churenji and Dainichibo Temples more easily accessible. Outlets can be found in Tsuruoka city center and at Shonai Airport.
Pilgrims traditionally visit Haguro-san first, Gas-san second, and finally Yudono-san. While the shrines could conceivably be visited in just one day in quick succession, an overnight stay is recommended. Hotels are available in Tsuruoka city center, and some shukubo (temple lodgings) can be found around Haguro-san.
For visitors arriving at Shonai Airport, a bus operates between the airport and JR Tsuruoka Station. The trip takes 30 minutes and costs 740 yen. Rental car outlets are available at the airport.
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