On Haguro and elsewhere, tengu are associated with mountains and mountain beliefs. Tengu, with their ability to fly among trees and freely manipulate the powers they possess, personify the goals of yamabushi. You could say a tengu is what a yamabushi aspires to become.

Practitioners of Haguro Shugendō associate Mt. Haguro with the present, Mt. Gassan with the past, and Mt. Yudono with the future. Appropriate to rebirth as a new soul while living, as they climb the three peaks in the Sankan Sando traverse, pilgrims wear white. On top, a Haguro yamabushi might wear a checkered garment called surigoromo [rubbing garment]. To better absorb natural energy from the mountain, the wearer rubs this outer layer on objects such as rocks and trees.

During their exertions on the mountain, yamabushi abstain from meat and fish and eat simple shōjin ryōri style food. A typical meal is a bowl of soup and one other vegetarian dish.
On Mt. Haguro, we consume devotional food with the intention of receiving spirit from the mountain. While it is possible to get all the protein the body needs, food foraged from the mountains is not what you would call luxurious. When they are not training, yamabushi eat whatever they like.

It was originally used for signaling by yamabushi who carried out their activities alone on the mountain. For example, depending on how the shell was blown, one might warn others of imminent danger or summon yamabushi to a gathering. Gradually, the conch came to be used for exorcism and to ward off evil.

People with no prior training can start on the way to becoming a yamabushi in the Autumn Peak Pilgrimage. Participation is limited to men of good health whose families also consent. Documents must also be submitted. If there are more applicants than available places, final selection will be made by oracle in front of the altar or by lottery. Non-Japanese applicants may also be accepted.

I am not allowed to disclose the details. I can say that it is a type of reincarnation training. After a death ceremony, that is, funerary rites, you enter the ‘womb’ of the mountain and undertake rigors to achieve rebirth. By pushing yourself to physical and mental extremes, all your senses become sharpened. Perhaps the greatest benefit of this training is to make you more greatly appreciate things you had formerly taken for granted in everyday life.

Non-Japanese applicants may also be accepted. In the past, the mountain was not open to women. Times have changed and Miko Shugyō woman-only yamabushi training is available during the same period as the Autumn Peak Pilgrimage. Women withdraw to a hall on the mountain and undertake ascetic rigors. Non-Japanese applicants may also be accepted.

When in training, interaction is not welcomed. During training, however, a yamabushi is not likely to be in a place where lay people normally venture. Since preaching is also part of training, if you encounter a yamabushi, please feel free to talk to them. You will find, however, that few are talkative.