Home - Tim Bunting

KIWI YAMABUSHI

Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

Kia ora koutou. I’m Tim Bunting, the Kiwi Yamabushi.

I’m a practicing Dewa Sanzan Yamabushi, a Japanese mountain ascetic based in Yamagata Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. Since 2016, I’ve trained in Haguro Shugendō under Master Fumihiro Hoshino through Daishobō, a pilgrim’s lodge on Haguro-san, and through Dewa Sanzan Jinja.

If you’re interested in experiencing Shugendō for yourself, check out Yamabushido.jp. Tell them I sent you.

In my spare time, I share stories from the overlooked corners of Japan, especially here in Tōhoku. I publish a Substack newsletter with over 1,500 subscribers, write a daily blog, and post videos on YouTube (over 1,000 subscribers). You’ll find me on most platforms as @kiwiyamabushi.

I’m currently on a mission to summit and document all 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata.

I’m available for:

Online consultation
Public speaking (in English or Japanese)
Guided experiences on the Dewa Sanzan (via Yamabushidō.jp or DewaSanzan.com)

As a Master Yamabushi and the creator of DewaSanzan.com, I believe I’m the most knowledgeable native English speaker on these sacred mountains.

POPULAR ARTICLES

My Substack newsletter articles are free to read for a week, but you can just get them sent to your email for free if you subscribe. After that, they are only available to paid subscribers. However, articles that get more than 1,000 reads I put here so everyone can enjoy them. All of the articles can be found here.

The Uniquely Japanese Superpower

Do this and you can officially call yourself Japanese

coffee beans

Joining a Local Japanese Coffee Brewing Competition

Notice I didn't say 'winning'.

person standing in pathway

One with the Mountains

In your element, in the elements

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MOUNTAINS OF YAMAGATA

Here are a few posts of my adventures climbing the 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata. Read about the project here, or view all articles here.

Kurosawa Akira, Abe Shinzo, The Kami of War, and a flock of geese?

Mountain that marks the entrance to the Kamuro Alps

Mt. Haguro's Five Story Pagoda

Why This Tiny Mountain MUST be on Your Japan Itinerary: Haguro-san

Home to Haguro Shugendo and the Dewa Sanzan Yamabushi mountain monks

A Jizo statue at the top of Mt. Kyogakura in Sakata

Womb Passes and Monkey Crossings: Kyogakura-san “The Shugendo Peak of Sutras” (Mt. Kyogakura)

This tiny Shugendo peak and how the Japanese language got three alphabets

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DAILY YAMABUSHI

Here are some of my Daily Yamabushi posts. Get more here.

What happened, happened.

Use it or lose it

Focus on walking the walk.

Let the talk take care of itself

Unpolished

Yet out in the world

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KIWI YAMABUSHI

Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

Get updates from the mountains of Japan in your email for free! Sign up for the Kiwi Yamabushi newsletter here.

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Japanese yamabushi mountain ascetic from NZ sharing the side of Japan you never knew you wanted to know. @yamabushi.do @thedewasanzan

Crossing Mt. Gassan in winter be like… #mounta

Crossing Mt. Gassan in winter be like…

#mountains #japan #nature #tohoku #mountain #snow

6 hour solo hike on the mountains of #japan. Video

6 hour solo hike on the mountains of #japan. Video up now on YouTube.

#mountains #travel #nature #solo #solotravel #solotraveler #tohoku

Japan’s mountain of death 💀 ☠️ : Gas-san,

Japan’s mountain of death 💀 ☠️ : Gas-san, Mt. Gassan.

People climb this peak not only to pay their respects to the ancestors, but to also pray for a safe journey in the afterlife.

Believed to be the location our souls venture to when we pass, the atmosphere on Mt. Gassan depicts a version of heaven we often see in movies. A 100 Famous Mountain of Japan, Mt. Gassan is a definite must for nature lovers!

Detailed maps available free thanks to @thehokkaidocartographer as well! See timbunting.com/gassan for more.

A few of these shots were taken during @yamabushi.do experiences.

#japanhiking #hikingjapan #hiking #nature #japanoutdoors #outdoors #gassan #tohoku

Kyogakura-yama, Mt. Kyogakura, or ‘Mt. storehous

Kyogakura-yama, Mt. Kyogakura, or ‘Mt. storehouse of sutras’ is named after a pile of copies of sutras found in an earthenware pot in a very tight cave dating back at least 1,000 years. Besides this, the mountain has a clear connection to mountain worship with places like the Zazen (seated meditation) rock that looks out over the surrounding mountain range, and the ‘Tainai Kuguri’, womb pass, a common feature in sacred places throughout Japan.

Kyogakura-yama takes about an hour to summit, and has a lookout at the top with unbeatable views. It’s also right next to Juninotaki falls, one of Sakata’s most popular destinations during the height of summer.

#yamagata #japan #mountains #mountain #nature #hiking #offthebeatenpath #offthebeatentrack #offthebeatenpathtravel

You may not be able to tell from the photos (or ma

You may not be able to tell from the photos (or maybe the pit viper shows it) but Fujikura-yama, Mt. Fujikura, was not one of my favourite mountains to climb.

First, don’t climb lower mountains at the height of summer. That’s when the higher mountains are your friend.

Second, check and double check your route. You may unnecessarily be taking the long route with the even longer road there.

Third, if you see one pit viper on the way up, you better believe there will be another on the way down (true story).

Fourth, don’t wear shorts, even with skins, in and around water in the middle of forests. That’s where leaches live.

Fifth, well, I guess that’s about it. Enjoy the mountain while you can!

See timbunting.com/fujikura for more.

#mountains #nature #yamagata #japantravel #hiking #japanhiking #japantrip #tohoku

Atsumi Onsen is a popular hot spring town on the e

Atsumi Onsen is a popular hot spring town on the edge of the Sea of Japan that I was always jealous of because the people there could just pour snow into the drains and it would melt. Besides their superior methods of getting rid of the copious amounts of snow we get here in Yamagata, most, if not all, visitors to these parts seem completely oblivious that within five or so minutes from the town centre they could be in one of the most glorious waterfall wonderlands known to man.

While Atsumi-dake is a hike worthy of the mountain’s history as a mountain of nature worship (including abandoned pilgrim’s lodge), the waterfalls are only a short stone’s throw away, making for a great escape especially in the summer heat.

Https://www.timbunting.com/atsumi

What a place to stumble upon; hidden shrines, the

What a place to stumble upon; hidden shrines, the world’s smallest dragonfly, leaches, and pit vipers to boot.

We (I) were lucky / stupid enough to come across a hidden shrine on Kumanonaga-mine, Mt. Kumanonagamine (try saying that fast ten times) that we wouldn’t have gotten to hadn’t I taken the wrong turn when trying to get to the trailhead. Instead we found this mystical shrine, and what I think was the out-of-commission former trail up the mountain. We didn’t know that when we started climbing, of course.
Naturally, we followed what looked like the trail, and you know what? We actually made it to the summit, barely. After clambering up and cutting our way through some thick and steep bush for what felt like an eon.

The view from the summit was very nice indeed, but it came with the begging question, how were we going to get back to our car?

Help came from the oddest of places, as you’ll see in today’s article here:
https://timbunting.com/mountains/kumanonagamine/

#mountains #japan #japanesemountains #japaneseculture #hiddengems #hiddenshrine #shrine #secretgarden

Shoga-dake, Mt. Shogadake, was a real highlight of

Shoga-dake, Mt. Shogadake, was a real highlight of last year. This peak lies to the west of Mt. Chokai’s summit and is famous for its Nikkokisuge Day Lilies, bright yellowey-orange flowers, as well as some flowers native to Mt. Chokai like the Chokai thistle. You can reach Shoga-dake (relatively) easily from Mt. Chokai’s crater lake (a nice little detour), or do what I did and climb up from the lesser-trodden Odaira trailhead. Both trails guarantee amazing vistas over the Sea of Japan, as well as northern Yamagata, and southern Akita prefectures.

Read more at https://www.timbunting.com/shogadake

#mountains #sacred #mountain #rareflowers #flowers #japan #japantravel #offthebeatenpath

This mountain is called ‘Japan’. I’m not e

This mountain is called ‘Japan’.

I’m not even lying.

Nihon-Koku, Mt. Nihonkoku, is a mountain on the borders of Yamagata and Niigata that in the past actually was Japan. Which is to say, anywhere north of here wasn’t. Anywhere north of here was ruled by tribes of Emishi, native Japanese peoples, and was not part of the Japan ruled by the Yamato in Asuka, Nara prefecture.

There are a few other frankly weird theories as to the name of this mountain, like one that involves a Shogun and falcon, you can read about here:

https://timbunting.com/mountains/nihonkoku/

#weirdjapan #japan #japantravel #tohoku #yamagata #mountains

Haguro-san is by far my most visited mountain. In

Haguro-san is by far my most visited mountain. In fact, I’m there right now. There’s too much to cover for this mountain, I have already written a few thousand unpublished words about it, so I think I’ll leave it with the five story pagoda for now.

The current five story pagoda is a rebuild, only this rebuild is more than 650 years old. The original was built in 938 by samurai Taira no Masakado, and was designed to blend in with its surroundings. No paint or varnish was used in its construction, nor were nails, yet it still stands to this day. Such is the mastery of Japanese craftsmanship, and in fact one key point of the pagoda’s architecture was used in Tokyo Sky Tree, the central pillar used to counteract the many earthquakes Japan gets.

Whereas five story pagoda are generally built in a prominent location within temple complexes, this one is located at the base of the mountain in the middle of a forest. What’s up with that? Well, Haguro-san had its own journey of rebirth, and the location of this five story pagoda represents the fifth month of gestation along that journey. In other words, making it here is a definite achievement, but you’re only just past halfway. You can be a little proud of your achievements here, but with the knowledge that you still have a large chunk of the journey to go.

Learn more about Haguro-san with my article at https://www.timbunting.com/haguro.

#offthebeatenpath #offtheneatentrack #japan #offthebeatenpathjapan #tohoku #yamagata #japanhistory #japanculture

Takadate-yama, Mt. Takadate, is probably most famo

Takadate-yama, Mt. Takadate, is probably most famous for its RAMSAR wetlands, the Kami-ike and Shimo-ike lakes. These lakes welcome in all manner of rare birds and wildlife to a small mountain just a stone’s throw away from central Tsuruoka City. There is also a lookout tower at the summit, and the mountain is blessed with tons and tons of sakura trees which makes it a great spot for a family picnic or even a date.

See https://www.timbunting.com/takadate for my hiking guide.

#hiking #mountains #sakura #japanhiking #mountain #ruraljapan

Arakura-Yama, Mt. Arakura, has its trailhead in th

Arakura-Yama, Mt. Arakura, has its trailhead in the tiny port town of Yura along Yamagata’s coast on The Sea of Japan. If you go a little after the cherry blossoms bloom in the local parks, you can enjoy a mountain covered with mountain Sakura. Arakura Jinja is a real highlight, a mysterious shrine tucked into the mountains. Oh, and did I mention the view? Time it right and you get one of the best views of Yura, and even Chokai-san and Gassan.

See http://timbunting.com/arakura for more.

#mountains #nature #yamagata #japan #sakura #hiking #hikingjapan #japanhiking

Kinbo-zan, Mt. Kinbo was where I did my first @yam

Kinbo-zan, Mt. Kinbo was where I did my first @yamabushi.do Yamabushi training in 2017. It was also the first mountain I climbed for my 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata project. Both in the middle of winter (which isn’t normal, who said I was normal?).

The 471m tall peak is small enough that you can do that, which may explain the deep history of spiritual pilgrimages here. I’d recommend Kinbo-zan to anyone who has hiked Haguro-san. The two are very similar in height, but have different histories and plenty of side trails to explore too.

Learn more at timbunting.com/kinbo.

#japantravel #offthebeatenpath #offthebeatentrack #japantrip #yamagata #tohoku

A weird day of rain but with Mt. Chokai still very

A weird day of rain but with Mt. Chokai still very much visible. Ominous.

#mountains #mountain #nature #rain #powerofnature #naturelovers

Mt. Haguro right now. #dewasanzan #hagurosan #ya

Mt. Haguro right now.

#dewasanzan #hagurosan #yamabushi #japan #snow #snowjapan

It’s amazing what you can find on the streets of

It’s amazing what you can find on the streets of Japan, like this wooden desk wanting to get back to its roots.

#japan #japanstreet #japanwalk #walkjapan #streetsofjapan #japanstreets

Absolute scenes from Yudono-san on Saturday. The r

Absolute scenes from Yudono-san on Saturday. The real Yudono-san can only be climbed in winter. But you knew that already because you read my post, right? Right!?

Https://www.timbunting.com/yudono

#japan #japantravel #japansnow #snowyjapan #dewasanzan #yudonosan

Post no bills. About the only functioning thing

Post no bills.

About the only functioning thing around here it seems.

#smalltownjapan #japanretro #retro #retrojapan #ruraljapan #japanpost

The dream. A Kei van and an old building to keep y

The dream. A Kei van and an old building to keep you company.

#ruraljapan #smalltownjapan #keitruck #keicar #sakata #yamagata

The humble vending machine. Available at every cor

The humble vending machine. Available at every corner, in every kind of weather. #japan #japanlife #japanphoto #japanfocus

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Why do Japanese almost never use Sayonara casually?
What if you use Ohayogozaimasu at night?
Does “ikimashō” really mean let’s go?

Find out in the video.

Original article:
👉 https://timbunting.com/sayonara/

Kiwi Yamabushi Newsletter:
Get deep dives into life in rural Japan, Shugendō, and Yamabushi training straight to your inbox:
👉 https://kiwiyamabushi.com

✨ Paid subscribers get early access!
This video was released a week earlier for paid newsletter subscribers. If you’d like to support my work (and get early access + exclusive content), consider upgrading here:
👉https://www.kiwiyamabushi.com/

💬 Have you ever accidentally used sayonara in the wrong situation? Or heard it used in a surprising way? Share your story in the comments!

#Sayonara #JapaneseLanguage #JapanTravel #LearnJapanese

Image credits:
https://www.irasutoya.com/

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What does being spirited away actually mean in Japanese culture?
Who did the kidnapping?
What do people do to protect themselves from being spirited away?

Original article:
👉 https://www.timbunting.com/spirited-away

Kiwi Yamabushi Newsletter:
Get deep dives into life in rural Japan, Shugendō, and Yamabushi training straight to your inbox:
👉 https://kiwiyamabushi.com

✨ Paid subscribers get early access!
This video was released a week earlier for paid newsletter subscribers. If you’d like to support my work (and get early access + exclusive content), consider upgrading here:
👉 https://www.kiwiyamabushi.com/

💬 Which part of Spirited Away felt the most like real Japan to you? Drop it in the comments!

#SpiritedAway #StudioGhibli #JapanTravel #HiddenJapan #Yamabushi #Shugendo #JapaneseCulture #GhibliInRealLife

Image credits:
Wild speed super combo zel-8bit.hatenablog.com
Basu otoko from amazon.co.jp

Kurama Tengu By Tsukioka Kogyo - Katalog, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82296611

Kurama Tengu By Kōgyo Tsukioka - https://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/dglib/collections/view_detail_nougaku_doc?division=collections&class=nougaku_doc&type=music&ikana=くらまてんぐ&ititle=鞍馬天狗&istart=0&iselect=く&mid=123&seq=0&trace=result&trace=detail&did=200769, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=109785917

Ame onna By Utagawa Yoshiiku - Scanned from ISBN 9784336049452, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5487276

Minamoto no Yoshitsune By Unknown author - Collection of Chusonji Temple, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4106635

Yamanba By Sawaki Suushi (佐脇嵩之, Japanese, *1707, †1772) - scanned from ISBN 4-3360-4187-3., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5509397

Yokai By Kyosai Kawanabe (河鍋暁斎) - Met Museum (Metropolitan Museum of Art) - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/78669, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=633769

Yokai 2 By Tsukioka Yoshitoshi - Publico.es [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=624451

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Why is Jizo-san EVERYWHERE in Japan?

Spend even a tiny amount of time in Japan, and you’ll notice a strange yet comforting figure on roadsides, mountain trails, and even graveyards. Red bib, little cap, kind face, sometimes surrounded by piles of stones, this is Jizo Bodhisattva, known in Japanese as Ojizo-sama, or Jizo-san for short.

Who is Jizo-san?
Why is he all over Japan?
Why does he protect travelers?
Why do Japanese people stack stones on mountains?
What’s up with the baby clothing?

Original article:
👉 https://www.timbunting.com/jizo
Kiwi Yamabushi Newsletter:
Get deep dives into life in rural Japan, Shugendō, and Yamabushi life straight to your inbox:
👉 https://kiwiyamabushi.com

✨ Paid subscribers get early access!
This video was released a week earlier for paid newsletter subscribers. If you’d like to support my work (and get early access + exclusive content), consider upgrading here:
👉 https://www.kiwiyamabushi.com/

What’s the most memorable Jizo you’ve seen in Japan? Drop it in the comments!

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:45 Who is Jizo-san?
02:10 The Six Realms of Buddhist cosmology
03:40 Jizo and the children of the Sanzu River
05:15 Why red bibs and caps?
06:00 Final thoughts

#Jizo #JapaneseCulture #JapanTravel #JapaneseBuddhism #OjizoSama #Shugendo #JapaneseFolklore

Image credits:

Dosojin
By Yanajin33 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32192510

Datsue-baWolfgangMichel - 投稿者自身による著作物, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=７４４３２１３５による

Sanzu River
By Tosa Mitsunobu - scanned from ISBN 4-6206-0578-6., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5552743

Yama, the Lord of Death, holding the Wheel of Life Wellcome
See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Sakata City, Yamagata, Japan

timb008@gmail.com

All photos my own unless otherwise stated. Contact for more.