Itinerary
Day 1: Hike up 800+ year old Pilgrimage route to Buddhist temple deep in the mountains
Stop At: 日蓮宗 瑞雲院 七面山麓 白糸教会修行道場, 1328 Akasawa, Hayakawa, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi 409-2733, Japan
Start our hike from a small temple at the base where we learn a bit about the history of Nichiren Buddhism and Shichimenzan as a pilgrimage site. This has been a training ground for Nichiren Buddhist Monks since the late 1,200's.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Hagoromo Shiraito Waterfall, Akasawa, Hayakawa, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi 409-2733, Japan
Great waterfall at the base of the mountain that is used in winter for ascetic training and purification by the monks of Shichimenzan. There is also a statue of Oman-no-kata, the first woman to climb Shichimenzan in the 1,600's. We will hear her story before starting our climb.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 七面山 敬慎院, 4217 Minobu, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi 409-2524, Japan
Keishinin is the temple that was built in the late 1,200's to the goddess of Shichimenzan, or the Shichimenzan Daimyojin. She is said to protect the teachings of the Lotus Sutra as well as its followers by changing into a powerful dragon.
This temple also features one of the best views of Mt. Fuji and features a diamond Fuji sunrise on the fall and spring equinox. This is when the sun rises directly behind the summit of Mt. Fuji and the light passes over Fuji, through the temple gate, and into the main hall.
This is the temple that we will spend the night in. The late afternoon will start with tea and then a chance to get a hot bath (communal gender separated). Then a simple Buddhist Vegetarian meal will be served before there are two services in the temple in the evening that everyone is able to join in on.
Duration: 14 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner: Simple Buddhist vegetarian meal featuring rice, miso soup, some side dishes, as well as Sake'.
Accommodation included: Overnight in temple accomodations. Very basic tatami room with futons. Private rooms are not available.
Day 2: Visit summit of mountain and then descend and head to Minobu-san temple
Stop At: 随身門・49丁目, 4217 Minobu, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi 409-2524, Japan
Before breakfast we will head up to the gate of the temple to watch the sunrise with Mt. Fuji in the background. This is one of the best sunrise view points of a snow covered Mt. Fuji.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Mt. Shichimen, Minobu, Minobu-cho, Minamikoma-gun 409-2701 Yamanashi Prefecture
After breakfast we will head up to the summit of Shichimenzan. There are some great Fuji view points along the way. Total time up is 45 minutes and about 30 minutes back down.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: 新客殿, Minobu, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi 409-2524, Japan
After descending the mountain it is a short drive to Minobusan, the main temple for Nichiren Buddhism. There will be some time to climb the 287 stairs which signifies the passage through life's challenges. There are multiple halls that can be visited as well as a shop to purchase various Buddhist items and a café on site.
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Buddhist vegetarian meal which also includes rice and miso soup.
No accommodation included on this day.