Experience Shugyo Training and Matcha with Sweets at Sakuramoto-bo Temple at Yoshino-Omine, a World Heritage Site
Overview
Yoshino-Omine, Nara Prefecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an area famous for its steep mountains with elevations of over a thousand meters, and as a holy place for Shugendo. It is also a place where you can enjoy the beautiful nature of each season, such as cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, and autumn leaves in autumn. At Sakuramoto-bo Temple, you can participate in a training experience that allows you to sharpen your senses and reflect on yourself.
Highlights
- Touch on the will of the Yoshino Holy Emperor to connect with good fortunes in marriage, work, school, and society
- Look back on your "true self" and consider "how to live as a human being" in the world heritage site of Yoshino-Omine
- Feel the spirituality of great people who have continued throughout the long history since the reign of Emperor Tenmu
Key Information
Important Information
- Participants must be of elementary-school age or older (elementary- and junior-high-school students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
- Accompanied participation by preschool children is also possible (free of charge).
- We do not offer pick-up and drop-off services
- The training starts with writing with ink, so please be careful
- Basically, the experience will be held in a Japanese-style room without chairs; if you would like a chair, please let us know when you make your reservation
- You cannot take the copied sutras/buddhas home with you as they will be prayed for on the day
- Option 3 (worship service + writing prayers and burning the goma tree + matcha green tea + sweets) requires a minimum of 3 participants
Description
Yoshino-Omine, a world heritage site, is known as a holy place for Shugendo and the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism, and it is a place where you can feel the spirituality of Japan's origins. Why not experience training at Sakuramoto-bo while sharpening your five senses in a purified space surrounded by nature? In each experience, not only things received from nature such as air and water, but also things seen, heard, smelled, touched, and felt through the five senses will be incorporated to delight the mind and body.
As the training is held in a hall surrounded by nature, you can also enjoy the seasonal scenery. Enjoy your time in a truly out-of-the-ordinary space, feeling the triple unity of "food x mind x body" while looking back on yourself and thinking about the importance of caring for others. You can also enjoy matcha made from pesticide-free tea and sweets made from kudzu, a specialty of Mt. Yoshino.
The Shugendo of Yoshino is often thought of as severe training for men, but we offer experiences that even women, children, and beginners can participate in.
There are four types of experience to try. Numbers 3 and 4 are only bookable through Rakuten Travel Experiences!
1: Calligraphy + meditation + prayer + matcha green tea + sweets
2: Copying sutras or images of Buddha + contemplative meditation + prayer + matcha green tea + sweets
3: Worship service + writing prayers and burning the goma tree + matcha green tea + sweets
4: Buddhism and Shinto connection experience + matcha + sweets