Sendachi-Guided Mt. Omine Shugendo Training Tour

PLAN:3DAYS

PRICE FROM 450,000 JPY

a group of 2 people

REQUEST TO ORDER

MONTH:MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP

CATEGORY:CUSTOM TRAVEL THEME

TAG:DOROGAWA/SHUGENDO/TENKAWA VILLAGE

OVERVIEW

Highlights

-Climing sacred Mt. Omine with a Sendachi (a well-experienced Shugendo practitioner)

-Formal prayer with a priest at Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha Shrine

-Suigyo water purification ceremony at Ryusen-ji Temple

-Gomagyo fire ritual ceremony at Ryusen-ji Temple

-English speaking guide

-Chartered car

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Due to religious tradition, entering the area of Mt. Omine is restricted to men only. For groups that are mixed gender (or those who prefer not to ascend Mt. Omine), we also offer a Shugendo tour of the neighboring Mt. Inamuragatake, which is known as the “women’s Mt. Omine.” Mt. Inamuragatake is considered an official mountain dojo for shugendo ascetic training by Tenkawa Village’s Ryusen-ji Temple and all genders are permitted to climb it. That tour is listed here: ( https://nara-sightseeing.com/itinerary/13537/ )

Overview

This experience gives you the chance to immerse yourself into a genuine Shugendo landscape in the mountains where the faith was established over 1,300 years ago. Stay the night in Tenkawa Village, a hidden gem featuring natural hot springs and traditional Japanese ryokan.

Though it’s a three day “tour,” this is actually not intended to be a standard sightseeing experience . You will be visiting a sacred area for Shugendo practitioners and have real Shugendo experiences with a sendachi guide. This is not just a hike up a sacred Shugendo mountain, but a rare chance to experience the rituals and ascetic training which have been an integral part of Shugendo practices for centuries. Discover the essence of Japanese faith in the pristine nature of Nara’s southern mountains.

DAY1

Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha Shrine

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 fare. 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. Omine.

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!
DAY2

Shugendo Training on Mt. Omine

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 founder of Shugendo, in the middle of the 7th century. Before entering Mt. Omine, 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. Omine is, for many Shugendo practitioners, the most sacred mountain in the faith and the location of the first known Shugendo temple, Ominesan-ji, founded over 1,300 years ago by En no Gyoja. You will be guided on the mountain for a 7 hour trek by an experienced Shugendo sendachi guide who will instruct you on the ancient path’s shugyo practices, which you will be allowed to participate in directly.

After walking down from Mt. Omine, 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 the day's events have concluded, return to your ryokan and bathe in the healing waters of a natural onsen just as Shugendo practitioners have done here for centuries before.
DAY3

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 café. 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.

JOURNEY

PRICE DETAILS

PRICE

PRICE INCLUDES

●A chartered car with a driver for 3 days
●An English speaking guide
●Accommodation for 2 nights with dinners and breakfasts
●1 lunch on the second day
●The program fees
-Formal prayer with a priest at Tenkawa Daibenzaitensha Shrine
-Suigyo, water purification ceremony at Ryusenji Temple
-Gomagyo, fire ritual ceremony at Ryusenji Temple
-Sendachi escort fee
-white clothes for Shugendo training
-Goshuincho, Goshuin stamp books
-Goshuin stamps
-Kokonoemamori, charms

CAR

Chartered car with a driver

1-2 travelers: Sedan
3-6 travelers: Jumbo taxi