For over 1,000 years, nature, religion and history have intertwined on Mount Daisen in Tottori Prefecture. These connections have benefitted the mountain and the people living around it throughout the centuries.
At the Daisen Museum of Nature and History, visitors can explore the mountain’s story through multilingual, interactive exhibits before setting out on nearby hiking and climbing trails.
Nature and People
Photo by: Laura Payne Learn all about the wildlife that live on the mountain.
Multimedia exhibits on Daisen’s ecosystem teach visitors about the diverse flora and fauna that call the mountain home. Certain displays also offer the opportunity to practice identifying bird calls, animal tracks and seasonal plants. Safety information, such as which plants or animals to avoid, is included alongside these.
Another recommended exhibit explains how people who live on and around Daisen have worked to preserve the mountain over the years. For instance, many who climb to Daisen’s summit carry a small stone with them, which they leave at the top of the mountain. Park rangers later use stones like these to maintain trails and prevent erosion.
Mythology and History
Photo by: PIXTA/ M・H These videos explain how Daisen’s spiritual traditions have helped to protect its forests, creating a rich environment on the mountain’s slopes.
One of the most interesting features of Japan’s religious landscape is a syncretism between different beliefs. Mount Daisen is an example of this, having long been a pilgrimage site and spiritual center for Shinto, Buddhist and Shugendo beliefs.
Multilingual videos lead visitors through this syncretism from Daisen’s creation at the hands of a Shinto god to the founding of Daisen-ji—a Buddhist temple that is over 1,300 years old and one of the mountain’s main worship halls today. These videos also explain how Daisen’s spiritual traditions have helped to protect its forests, creating a rich environment on the mountain’s slopes.
The museum exhibit also features legends of the mountain’s resident karasu tengu (humanoid, birdlike creatures), who are said to protect the mountain and sometimes interact with humans. Whether one believes karasu tengu are real, their images can be seen throughout the museum and the mountain.
Learning More
Photo by: Laura Payne For more information, head to the Daisen National Park Centre across the street.
In addition to maintaining exhibits, the museum occasionally hosts craft workshops, art galleries and guided tours of nearby trails. Details for these events can be found online, at the museum information desk, or at the Daisen National Park Center across the street.
The Daisen National Park Centre is also a popular stop before or after hikes because it provides rest areas, trail maps and other important information on the mountain.
