If you want to learn about
japanese religion, observe a Buddhist or Shinto ceremony, or stay
in a wonderful, friendly place with an amazing atmosphere where
you can really relax a have a good think, then stay at a Shukubo
and enjoy delicious shojin ryori (vegetarian food).
Shukubo (temple lodging),
can be find all over Japan. I went to Yamagata-ken and stayed at
the Miyashita family shukubo. All the members were very nice with
us and thanks them a lot.
I have to say, it can be
unusal for them to receive foreigners and even japanese :-) without
any knowledge about japanese religion. But they were very open,
helpful, and answering any kind of questions we had.
The Shukubo is situated close
to the begining of the way up to Haguro-san. In the village you
can find small temples and very nice old japanese houses.
The diner was excellent,
had a good time to speak all together.
Here a look at the menu before
And after, for some, surprised
by all the different taste and for other just pleased by the diner.
When we went there, it was
just after the season if I can say like this. We were the only guests
over there. I hope you can have a image of the size of the building
with this picture, look at the corridor : endless (note, just beside
the stairs, a 100 tatami room).
What better than a bath before
sleeping
After a quiet night, we woke
up early morning for the fire ceremony. During this ceremony, they
put some paper over the fire and because of with a kind of power
the priest has, the paper doesn't burn. You can see it at my home,
they gave it to me after the ceremony as a protection talisman
It was really interesting,
after the ceremony, we can ask them any question about their religion
I really advice everybody
in Japan to try to sleep one night at this kind of place. For me,
I just wait next year to visit them again.
|
|