Experiencing Shugendo Practice in Yoshino:
A Mountain Pilgrimage Guided by a German-born Buddhist Priest
What You'll Experience
Experience Shugendo Practice firsthand by joining a pilgrimage led by a German-born Buddhist priest based at Sakuramotobo Temple in Yoshino. After joining a rite to pray for their safe travel, participants will hike into the mountains to gain a unique insight into the world of Shugendo, a Japanese religious tradition characterized by the merging of Shinto and Buddhist teachings.
Experiences
The Guide
The guide, a German-born Buddhist priest who serves as the assistant abbot of Sakuramotobo Temple in Yoshino, is able to provide explanations in three languages: Japanese, English, and German, thereby allowing participants to gain a unique insight into Shugendo practice from someone directly involved in this religious tradition.
Walking Course
After traveling from Sakuramotobo Temple to Kinpu Shrine by car, participants will follow an ancient pilgrimage route that leads to Hokakuji, a Shingon Buddhist temple and sacred site of Shugendo that is located deep in the mountains.
(Other routes are available by prior arrangement)
Concerning Shugendo
Shugendo is a uniquely Japanese religious tradition that incorporates teachings and practices taken from ancient Japanese mountain worship, Shinto, Daoism, and East Asian shamanism into a framework adopted from Esoteric Buddhism. Shugendo views mountains as inherently sacred spaces, and teaches that by entering these mountains, its practitioners can attain spiritual powers and religious insights with which they may benefit society as a whole.
Itinerary
Meet at Sakuramotobo Temple
Participate in a ritual for safe travel and receive a guided tour of Sakuramotobo Temple
Break for lunch (not a part of the tour)
Shugendo mountain pilgrimage from Kinpu Shrine to Hokakuji Temple
(This is the basic route, and takes approximately 3 hours to complete. Other routes are available by prior arrangement)
Enjoy a special opening of Hokakuji Temple (which is usually closed to the public)
Pricing
1 - 4 people
$100
per person
Experience fee
VAT
Donation of $15 per person to Hokakuji Temple for the special opening
5 - 10 people
$520
per group
Experience fee
VAT
Donation of $15 per person to Hokakuji Temple for the special opening
Shuttle service can be arranged through this web site for an additional fee.
If you would like to book a shuttle, please select this option on the booking form.
Experience Details
Available Days & Times
*Although this tour is offered year-round, there are times (such as during the cherry blossom season, and on days on which there are other temple rituals) when the priest who leads it is unavailable. For this reason, it is highly recommended that interested parties contact us concerning available dates well in advance.
*The starting time is negotiable, but since the itinerary requires a full day, it is recommended that participants plan to arrive at Sakuramotobo no later than 11 am.
Duration
4.5 to 5.5 hours (including a one-hour break for lunch)
Location
Sakuramotobo Temple, Kinpu Shrine, Hokakuji Temple
Meeting Point
Sakuramotobo Temple
Access
This tour requires arranging for a shuttle to take participants from Sakuramotobo to Kinpu Shrine at the beginning of the hike, and from Hokakuji back to the most convenient train station at the end of the tour. Sakuramotobo Temple itself can be reached either via a 40-minute walk from Kintetsu Yoshino Station, or via a 10-minute taxi ride from Kintetsu Yoshino Jingu Station.
*It is also possible to hike from Kinpu Shrine to Hokakuji and back, or even to hike from Sakuramotobo to Hokakuji and back. These routes are more strenuous, however, and require between 4 and 6 hours to complete.
Capacity
3-10 participants
Foreign Language Support
Available（English / German）
Barrier-free Access
Unavailable
Cancellation Policy
- 10-8 days prior: 20%
- 7-2 days prior: 30%
- 1 day prior:100%
- Same day: 100%
Notes
Please ensure you read Travel Agency Terms and Conditions, etc before applying for a tour.
A document explaining the terms of the transaction will be provided to you online.