修験道 (Shugendō) is a Japanese spiritual practice that combines elements of Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoism. It focuses on ascetic practices, mountain worship, and the pursuit of enlightenment through physical and spiritual training. Practitioners, known as 修験者 (shugenja), often undertake rigorous rituals and pilgrimages to sacred mountains, believing that these experiences lead to spiritual awakening. The tradition emphasizes the importance of nature and the belief that mountains are sacred spaces inhabited by deities. Key locations for 修験道 include the Yoshino and Kumano regions, where practitioners engage in meditation, fasting, and other ascetic practices to deepen their connection with the divine.