Real ascetic experiences are rare and are especially attractive to those from the United States and Europe.

A spokesman for the Haguro Tourist Association in Yamagata Prefecture. It offers ascetic tours related to the three mountains of the Dewa pilgrimage that include activities such as praying under waterfalls and fire-walking. The association had one group of five foreigners in fiscal 2014, but five groups of 52 foreigners in fiscal 2018.

© Yomiuri Shimbun