photo by Maker Chen
In Japan, to strengthen your soul, to strengthen your body, there are spiritual retreats. In order to become enlightened, Buddhist monks take part in a popular practice, the ’spiritual retreat’. Did you know that in Japan, there are places where lay people can experience this? Here we’ll introduce some spiritual retreat spots in Japan where lay people can become enlightened.
Japan’s Buddhist Mother ‘Hiei-zan Enryakuji’
Also registered as a World Heritage Site is Hiei-zan. It is the Tendai Buddhist Sect’s head temple that the Heian Period’s clergy ‘Sancho’ opened more than 1200 years ago. It is famous for producing many high priests of Japanese Buddhist history such as Shinran and Nichiren. There are two types of spiritual retreats that you can experience at this high status temple, the simple version or the stay-over version. For the simple versions, there are the shakyo- (transcribing of a sutra) or zazen (meditation).
Simple version ‘Shakyo-’ (90 minutes)
Transcription of a sutra that will prepare both your soul and body. Obviously, spiritual retreats have been happening since the olden days in Japan, holding deep meanings like wishing for healing of diseases or memorial services for our forefathers. Very slowly with a brush, we copy the Heart Sutra, Buddhism’s sutra. It’s already difficult to write with a brush, all the words we have to write are in Kanji.. The act of concentrating on just writing words frees you from obstructive thoughts, preparing your soul.
Simple version ‘Zazen’ (one hour)
This pose is known as the Buddha’s enlightenment position. It is a basic Zen spiritual retreat that helps you to lose your various desires. Before experiencing zazen, a little mental preparation is necessary. First is clothing. Men should take off things that restrict them, such as their belt and neck tie. Women should wear pants since they’ll be crossing their legs. If you absent-mindedly wear a skirt, in order to concentrate on your spiritual retreat, be sure to cover your frontside with a hankerchief. This is a spiritual retreat where you concentrate your breathing on the point below the navel, and if you have an inkling of a distracting thought, the monk will be able to tell and you will be scolded. Concentrate just on your breathing, and stay put for the 40 mins to an hour it takes an incense to burn out. Either way it’s 1000 yen per person but the zazen is available, from parties of 2 people or more. Be sure to always make a reservation beforehand.
For people who want plenty of time to face themselves, the stay-over version spiritual retreats are recommended
This is also at Hiei-zan’s Enryaku-ji, but takes place at Kojirin in the West Tower that is surrounded by lush nature. There are two courses, the overnight stay or 2 night- 3 day courses for the full-fledged experience.
Firstly, the ‘overnight stay course’. Starting with zazen, you experience spiritual retreat fully by hearing thankful stories from the monks, transcribing scriptures, and cleaning (about 30 minutes). You can take a bath at night as well as in the morning, and you can freely take a walk around the forest. One full day starts from 3pm on the first day until 1pm the next day. But, all you get for dinner is rice porridge. You can finally have some food at lunch so prepare yourself. Price for the overnight stay course is 8640 yen for adults, 7560 yen for junior/high school students, and for elementary school students is less that 5400 yen.
And the slightly harder ‘2 nights 3 day stay course’: After waking up at 5am, you refresh yourself with zazen. There is the shakyo- and the stories from the monks, but there is also a discussion session you can have with the monks! You can ask anything you want to know as long as it’s within limits. Obviously, both nights there is nothing to eat. Breakfast consists of porridge, but your body is sure to get a cleanse with such a modest meal. The retreat is from 3pm on the first day to 10am on the third day, but you’re sure to be spiritually healing your body in the process. The 2 nights 3 days course is 17280 yen for adults, 15120 yen for junior/high school students and 10800 yen for elementary school students and younger. Time period is restricted to between March 10th and November 30th. Elementary school students and younger need a parental guardian to join.
Hiei-zan Enryakuji
Shiga Prefecture Otsu City Sakamoto-honcho 4220
Phone: 077-578-0001
For a diet as well! ‘Narita-San Shinshouji Temple’ Fasting Experience
If you’re thinking about doing a spiritual retreat in the Tokyo area, there’s Narita-san’s Shinshoji Temple. Here, they have shakyo- or zazen for sure, and they also have a slightly hardcore fasting retreat. You can choose your fasting schedule from 2 nights and 3 days up to 6 nights and 7 days. Since it’s discipline for the mind and body, it’s not advisable for you to jokingly take part. Of course, cell phones are not allowed. During the fast, you will not be allowed to go shopping. They will lend out bedding supplies, so just bring your basic necessities. The fee is 5000 yen for 2 nights and 3 days, and after 4 days, just add 1000 yen for each additional day. You need to have a health check done before you take part, no matter how healthy you think you are. You have to submit this health check as well. Ones who take medicine on the daily cannot take part so be aware.
Narita-san Shinshoji Temple
Chiba prefecture Narita-shi, Narita 1
Phone: 0476-22-2111
Takigyo (Waterfall practice) that even women can take part in ‘Mt Inunakiyama Shippouryuuji’
Impactful waterfall spiritual retreats take place in various areas around Japan, but doing it at Mt. Inunakiyama Shippouryuuji, where it’s well-known that the waterfall is haunted, is extraordinary. There is a never-ending amount of people who come from all over Japan to do this particular waterfall practice. Only people who have received instructions can take place in this waterfall spiritual practice. First-timers need to undergo etiquette instruction before they can take part. After you take part in a mountain spiritual retreat at Mt Inunakiyama’s retreat center, you can take part in the waterfall practice at the end. You can borrow the signature white kimonos used for the waterfall practice for 500 yen. It is in fact a spiritual retreat, so no talking is allowed during the experience. Do not try it out of curiosity either. Don’t forget your lunch, bath towel and a change of clothes. Price is 2000 yen. You can experience the practice only on the third Sunday of every month (excluding December to February).
Mt Inunakiyama Shippouryuuji
Osaka Prefecture Izumisanoshi Daiki 8
Phone: 072-459-7101
When inspired at home, ‘Shabutsu’ spiritual retreat at home
When you think of retreats, we tend to be reminded of the intense ones like the waterfall practice where you get hit by waterfalls, or zazen where you get hit with bamboo sticks, but there are also ones that are a more low-key. For example, an ascetic practice consisting of tracing Buddha or coloring him in, ‘Shabutsu’. You can download a sample Shabutsu from the Kongouin homepage, so you can casually do your retreat at home without worrying about the time or the place. Color the Buddha and after you trace the line of the original Buddha image, then you are done. Since there are many visuals of the Buddha and you can concentrate yourself, you are sure to encounter an unselfish you.
Download Shabutsu
Shingon-shu Buzan-ha Kongouin
