Journey Through Tohoku to Experience Japanese Culture and the Spirit of Zen Buddhism
Nowadays, it is all too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our modern lives. Quieten your mind and cast off the stress of everyday life by gently immersing yourself in local culture and the peaceful natural beauty of the Tohoku region.
Visit Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, to learn the peaceful art of the Japanese tea ceremony in a long-established landscape garden, once loved by successive lords of the Aizu domain.
Stay in a temple lodging in Oma Town, Aomori Prefecture, practicing Zen meditation and tracing Buddhist images—all part of an exclusive experience limited to just one group per day.
Rent a private cabin in the forest and immerse yourself in natural beauty in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture.
Free your mind and discover yourself through seated Zen meditation in Semboku City's historic Samurai district of Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture.
Carefully prepare a cup of matcha green tea, experience first-hand the uses of wood as a natural material, or simply sit and gaze at the natural scenery, discovering how to savor the present moment without rushing or comparing yourself to others. Allow your trip to be guided by Japanese culture and the spirit of Zen, learning to recognize your own true nature and accept yourself for who you are.
Fukushima Prefecture: Dress in a Kimono and Discover Aizu's Tea Ceremony Culture
Familiarize yourself with Aizu's tea ceremony culture at Oyaku-en, a landscape garden located in a centuries-old villa estate once loved by successive lords of the Aizu domain.
First, slip on a simple kimono made from "Aizu cotton," which has been woven in the region for centuries. Once dressed, you will observe the preparations for a traditional Aizu tea ceremony before enjoying a cup of light matcha green tea, making use of the Japanese etiquette you have learned.
Afterward, tour the beautiful gardens as you take in the Japanesque scenery, complete with thatched-roof architecture and a strolling garden.
When hunger strikes, savor a satisfying lunch of Wappa-meshi, a the local specialty consisting of seasoned rice steamed with local mountain vegetables, mushrooms, or seafood, served in a wooden container.
Aomori Prefecture: Drinking and Zen Meditation? Experience Slow Living at a Temple Lodging!
Book an exclusive overnight stay in the lodging house of Oma Shukubo Fugen-in—a Zen Buddhist temple featuring a main hall constructed entirely of Aomori cypress wood within its approximately 9,900 square meter grounds.
During your one-night and two-day stay you will experience self-purification activities, including seated Zen meditation, prayer services, and tracing Buddhist images. Enjoy a luxurious dinner of local delicacies from Aomori's mountains and seas, including Oma tuna, as well as a breakfast of shojin ryori—a traditional vegetarian meal based on Buddhist teachings.
Enjoy a leisurely stay, sharing drinks with the monks while savoring the highly coveted Oma tuna.
Fukushima Prefecture: Rent a Forest Cabin and Experience Traditional Local Life
Rent a private cabin nestled in a beautiful forest in western Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, and embark on a journey to discover the Japanese way of life, enriched by an abundance of natural wooden materials.
Freely customize your stay through an array of optional wood-themed activities such as guided forest walks, mushroom-growing, and open-air wooden bath tub bathing. Sake and soy sauce brewery tours and charcoal-making experiences are also available at nearby facilities!
Try a range of activities based upon traditional local life, with a focus on nurturing and protecting the earth's natural resources for the next generation.
Akita Prefecture: Experience Seated Zen Meditation at a Temple in Kakunodate—Tohoku's "Little Kyoto"
Manpukuji Temple, a Soto Zen Buddhist temple, is located in a quiet area slightly removed from the Samurai Residence district of Kakunodate which, known today as the "Little Kyoto of Michinoku," was once a bustling castle town.
Escape the troubles of daily life and foster a deep connection with yourself by taking part in a seated Zen meditation experience within the vast, nature-rich temple grounds. Learn the basic teachings of Zen Buddhism under the guidance of the head priest before beginning your meditation practice, taking a moment to regulate your breath and calm your mind.
After meditation, enjoy a delightful time conversing over green tea and Japanese sweets with the head priest, who was born and raised in Kakunodate.
