iN HAMAMATSU.COM | Culture | Zen Experience (Okuyama Houkouji)

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IN HAMAMATSU.COM Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Visitor Guide

IN HAMAMATSU.COM Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan Visitor Guide Hamamatsu
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Zen Experience (Okuyama Houkouji)

Organize your mind through meditation


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You can try a casual Zen experience such as Shojin Ryori, Zazen, Shakyo and Shabutsu while sightseeing at Okuyama Hokoji, the representative Zen temple of the Tokai region. Why don't you get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and get refreshed in the clear air of the mountains?
Admission
Babies and children under school age Free
Junior high and down ¥200
Adult(high school and up) ¥500
Discounts for groups of 20 or more
Babies and children under school age Free
Junior high and down ¥150
Adult(high school and up) ¥450
One day Zen temple experience
※Experience plan with interpretation
A plan that bundles Zazen, Shabutsu and Shojin Ryori experiences done with a monk. You can enjoy the silent time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
We recommend the plan with an interpreter if you want to learn deeply about Zen.
Availability hroughout the year (some dates may not be available due to events, etc.)
Deadline Up to 7 days in advance
Duration About 3 hours
Start time Choose from 9:30am〜1pm or 11:30am〜3pm
Capacity 2 people〜
※Larger parties please inquire first.
Details Shojin Ryori, Zazen and Shakyo or Shabutsu

Fee
2 people or more ¥15,000/ person
Included in Cost/ Experience, Shojinryori, Admission, Interpretation fee

How to make a reservation
Please send the following information to info@inhamamatsu.com at least 7 days in advance
  • Desired Date/ Time
  • Requested Number of people
  • Main Guest's Name
  • Preferred interpretation language
  • What transportation you will use to get to the site on the day of the tour?
  • How you can be reached on the day of reservation (cell phone, email, hotel, etc)
  • Nationality (for purpose of our tourism survey)
Please book 7 days in advance
BOOK NOW
Cancellation Charges
7 Day to 3 Day Notice: ¥3,000 per person
2 Day to 1 Day Notice: 50%
Cancel on the day of the tour or fail to show: 100%
Zen Temple Lodging Experience

Limited to one group per day.
A memorable stay at a mountain temple

Stay at a quiet temple in the mountains and organize your mind through meditation. This plan includes a Zen experience with a monk and a two-course dinner of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine called shojin-ryori. This is aprivate plan with only one group per day and is recommended for those who wish to take a deeper dive into learning about Zen Buddhism.
週末宿坊
Availability All year round
(except for the fourth Saturday of the month)
Deadline Up to 10 days in advance.
Duration 2 days and 1 night
Start time Check-in 3:30pm
※Check-out 10am
Language Japanese
※Interpreter will be with you until dinner on the 1st day.
Capacity 1〜10 people
Conditions of Participation Participants must understand that the monks' guidance will be in Japanese only.
Details ● Day 1
Guided visit to the temple, explanation of zazen meditation and Q&A session with a monk, Dinner, shakyo or shabutsu (hand-copying sutras or tracing a picture of a Buddhist image), evening zazen
● Day2
Morning zazen, breakfast, check-out
※Participants can walk around the temple grounds until 4pm after checkout.

Fee
1〜5 people ¥121,000/ group
6 people or more additional charge ¥22,000/ person
Included in Cost/Temple entrance and admission fee, zazen meditation, sutra copying (or Buddhist image tracing), accommodation (1 night + 2 meals), interpreter

How to make a reservation
Please send the following information to info@inhamamatsu.com at least 10 days in advance
  • Desired Date
  • Requested Number of people
  • Main Guest's Name
  • Desired number of rooms
    ※7 rooms (for 1-4 people), 1 room (for 2- 7 people)
  • Preferred interpretation language
  • What transportation you will use to get to the site on the day of the tour?
  • How you can be reached on the day of reservation (cell phone, email, hotel, etc)
  • Nationality (for purpose of our tourism survey)
Please book 10 days in advance
BOOK NOW
Cancellation Charges
14 Days to 8 Days Notice: 30%
7 Days to 2 Days Notice: 50%
Cancel on the day before, on the day of the tour or no-show: 100%
Zazen/ Shakyo/ Shabutsu
caution
This experience plan is conducted in Japanese and does not come with an interpreter. For those who wish to have an interpreter, please sign up for the One Day Zen Experience Plan or the Zen Temple Lodging Experience Plan.
Availability Throughout the year (some dates may not be available due to events, etc.)
Reception 9am〜3pm
Capacity 1 or 2 people
※Larger parties please inquire first.
Fee
¥1,000/ person (Entry fee not included)
※Please inquire about group rates.
Zazen (Zen meditation)
You can try Zazen which the study of ones self. It is easy for beginners and will be given attentive instructions such as how to properly cross your legs or keeping the proper posture by an actual monk.
禅体験
Duration 60 minutes
Capacity 2 people and more
Deadline Up to 3 days in advance.
Memo Attire without socks is recommended
Shakyo (Transcribing a sutra)
You will learn to stabilize your mind while transcribing a sutra by copying each of the letters. Putting all distracting thoughts out of your mind and concentrating on copying the letters will take you away from your daily life and keep you calm. The finished sutra will be said in prayer by the temple, but you can also take it home with you.
写経体験
Duration 60 minutes
Capacity 1 person and more
Deadline Same day reservations are possible, but it's better to make a reservation.
Shabutsu (Tracing a picture of a Buddhist image)
You will learn to stabilize your mind by tracing a picture of a Buddhist image onto a sheet of paper. Even if you use the same model, the finished copies will vary as it depends on the drawer's mental attitude of that time it was created. The finished work will be prayed on the temple, but you can also take it home with you.
写仏体験
Duration 45 minutes
Capacity 1 person and more
Deadline Same day reservations are possible, but it's better to make a reservation.
For inquiries and reservations,
please contact here:
Japanese only053-543-0003
Reception Hours 9am〜4pm
For those who wish to have an interpreter,
please sign up for one of the plans below.
Shojin Ryori
caution
This experience plan is conducted in Japanese and does not come with an interpreter. For those who wish to have an interpreter, please sign up for the One Day Zen Experience Plan or the Zen Temple Lodging Experience Plan.
(A vegetarian cuisine originally created for Buddhist monks encompassing their dietary restrictions)
You can enjoy seasonal Shojin Ryori. Shojin Ryori is prepared with natural ingredients with vegetables as its main staple. It generally omits meat, fish, Chinese chives, and garlic. The Houkouji's special" Unajyu "(imitation eel over rice served in a box) made from tofu, lotus root and yam is popular.
精進料理
Availability Throughout the year (some dates may not be available due to events, etc.)
Reception 11am〜1pm
Capacity 1 person and more
※Larger parties please inquire first.
Deadline Same day reservations are possible;
※"Seasonal Shoujin Ryori plus additional side dishes" must be reserved by phone at least 2 days in advance.
注意事項
Basically, a reservation is ok on the day of your visit; however, the temple cannot guarantee that your reservation can be taken if other events occur on the same day; therefore, we recommend you to make a reservation in advance to ensure you can enjoy the meals.
Seasonal Shoujin Ryori
Fee
¥3,000/ person (Entry fee not included)
Seasonal Shoujin Ryori plus additional side dishes
※Reservation required
Reservation required
¥4,000/ person (Entry fee not included)
Shojin Unajyu
Fee
¥1,800/ person (Entry fee not included)
For inquiries and reservations,
please contact here:
Japanese only053-543-0003
Reception Hours 9am〜4pm
For those who wish to have an interpreter,
please sign up for one of the plans below.
About Okuyama Houkouji
During the second year of the Kentoku Era (1371) Mumongensenzenji, the son of Emperor Godaigo, established this Zen temple on 60 hectares of land. 22 of the buildings are registered as a tangible cultural property.




>> Okuyama Houkouji / 奥山方広寺
ADDRESS 1577-1 Okuyama,Inasachou,Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu-shi,Shizuoka
PHONE 053-543-0003
OPEN HOURS 9am – 4pm (Mountain’s reception closes at 3:30)

TRANSPORT From Hamamatsu Station
[BUS] Take the "Shiyakusho-Okuyama"line bus (60 minutes ride) at bus stop #15 of the bus terminal to "Okuyama" then walk
[TAXI] 50 minutes
[CAR]10 minutes from Shin-tomei Expressway Hamamatsu I.C. ※From Chubu International Airport connection road (Centrair line) Centrair East Interchange to Hamamatsu Inasa interchange of Shin-tomei Expressway.  About an hour and twenty minutes.
web site
http://www.houkouji.or.jp/index.html(Japanese)
2023.6.16 update
Content may be subject to change after publication. Please also note that we are not accountable for loses and damages that may occur as a result of said changes.