Sendachi-Guided Mt. Inamuragatake Shugendo Training Tour

We will pick you up at Yamato Yagi station in Kashihara City, Nara Pref. and take you via chartered car to Tenkawa Village. Or if you wish, the pick-up point can be changed via your request with an additional fee. Upon arrival in Tenkawa, check into your ryokan, followed by a visit to the Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha Shrine. This is considered to be the foremost of Japan’s three great shrines honoring the deity Benzaiten, one of the seven gods of good fortune. This shrine has been a key spot for Shugendo practices since ancient times, with high ranking priests and Shugendo practitioners visiting together for purposes of worship. A priest of the shrine will make a prayer for your safe passage on Mt. Inamuragatake.
After the visit to the shrine, go back to the ryokan and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. We recommend taking some time to walk along the main street of Dorogawa after dark to see the Edo-period atmosphere created by the glowing lanterns of the ryokans.

Enjoy a dinner featuring local ingredients at your ryokan, take a dip into the onsen, and have a good rest to prepare for the next day!

Rise early in the morning and enjoy the fresh mountain air. Have a hearty breakfast at your ryokan and dress in provided white clothing for entering the sacred mountains.

Start the morning off with a visit to Ryusen-ji Temple. This temple was established by En no Gyoja, the figure credited with establishing Shugendo in this area in the middle of the 7th century. Before entering Mt. Inamuragatake, you will participate in an ancient ritual known as “suigyo” that involves immersing yourself in the sacred spring water of the temple while a priest recites sutras to purify the body and pray for safety on the journey ahead. Mt. Inamuragatake, which stands at 1,726 meters in elevation, takes about 7 hours to hike round-trip.
On the way to its summit, you can enjoy the abundant native flowers and other plants, especially the beautiful alpine roses in April and May. Experience navigating your way up a rocky crag surrounded by sheer cliffs using pre-set ladders and chains to reach Dainichidake Peak (1,689m), which is an important Shugendo training spot. A seated Dainichi Nyorai Buddha statue is enshrined on the top of the peak, drawing many believers to the difficult to reach location for prayer. After another 30 minute walk from the Dainichidake Peak, you will reach the top of Mt. Inamuragatake, where you can enjoy a majestic 360-degree view of the Omine Mountain Range.

After walking down from Mt. Inamuragatake, visit Ryusenji Temple again in the evening to participate in a special fire ritual known as “goma.” Concluding your day with the last of the Shugendo practices, you will be filled with a unique sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that few others have had the chance to experience.

After breakfast at your ryokan, enjoy the day at your leisure, further exploring the beautiful mountain town of Dorogowa, shopping for souvenirs, or perhaps just kicking back and relaxing at a local restaurant or cafe. Whatever you choose to do, the tour will wrap up when we return you to Yamato-Yagi station. Or if you wish, the drop-off point can be changed by request with an additional fee.