Discovering the Spirit of Shugendō

Hidden among Japan’s sacred mountains lies one of the nation’s oldest and most mysterious spiritual paths — Shugendō (修験道), the “Way of Ascetic Training.”
For over a millennium, Shugendō has reflected Japan’s deep reverence for nature, seeing mountains, forests, and rivers as divine entities that sustain and purify life.

Rooted in Shinto, Buddhism, and ancient nature worship, Shugendō blends spiritual discipline with physical endurance.
Practitioners known as Yamabushi venture deep into wilderness sanctuaries, seeking enlightenment not through theory, but through direct communion with nature.

The Role of the Sendachi — Your Spiritual Guide

At sacred mountains like Mount Ōmine, spiritual guides called Sendachi lead practitioners through intense ascetic practices.
Their deep understanding of Shugendō’s rituals and teachings ensures each journey is both safe and spiritually rewarding.
Under their guidance, participants undergo a transformation that tests endurance, humility, and faith.

Your Shugendō Journey

1. A Blessing for Safe Passage

Begin your pilgrimage at Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha Shrine, one of Japan’s three great shrines to Benzaiten, goddess of wisdom and art.
Here, a priest offers prayers for your protection before you embark on the sacred mountain path.

2. Purification at Ryūsenji Temple

Before entering Mount Ōmine, you’ll perform the Suigyō water purification ritual at Ryūsenji Temple, founded by En no Gyōja — Shugendō’s legendary founder.
Immersing yourself in crystal-clear water, you cleanse both body and spirit in preparation for your mountain training.

3. Shugendō Experience Tour

Over three days, guided by your Sendachi, you’ll follow ancient mountain trails, chant sacred sutras, and take part in timeless rituals.
This journey is not a hike — it is a living initiation into Japan’s spiritual heart, a rare opportunity to experience harmony with nature in its purest form.

4. The Fire Ritual

Upon descending Mount Ōmine, you’ll witness the fire ritual at Ryūsenji Temple — a powerful ceremony where flames symbolize purification and rebirth.
As the sacred fire burns, practitioners chant ancient mantras, offering obstacles and desires to be transformed into light.

“In the heart of the mountain, one finds not escape, but awakening.”

When the journey concludes, you’ll carry home a sense of peace and fulfillment that words can scarcely capture.
Shugendō teaches that enlightenment is not separate from life itself — it is found in the wind, the water, and the silence of the mountains.