Experiences

Buddhist Meditation
Meditation in Buddhism is a practice for attaining enlightenment. Its methods are diverse, ranging from quietly sitting meditation to those involving postures like yoga, which originated in ancient India. In Japan, meditation teachings and practices vary by sect, and each temple offers its unique meditation experience. From beginners to those who regularly practice meditation, there is gentle guidance for everyone to engage at their own pace.

Zazen (zazen)
Zazen is a practice of quietly sitting to achieve a state of mental unification called zenjo (zenna). By quietly and continuously sitting, one calms the mind and contemplates truth, a practice believed to eventually lead to enlightenment.

During your temple stay, you can experience local food culture, including shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). Dishes made with seasonal local ingredients are gentle on the body and emphasize the natural flavors of the ingredients. Eating is also a time to reflect on your mind. Through a dining experience where you face the blessings of nature and savor each bite slowly, you may discover a "fulfilling time" that you don't notice in your daily life.

Shojin ryori — a form of food that balances mind and body, rooted in Buddhist teachings
Shojin ryori is a traditional cuisine based on Buddhist precepts, made primarily from vegetables and plant-based ingredients, without meat or fish. The word "shojin" itself means "to devote oneself to ascetic practice." At its root is the Sanskrit concept of "ahimsa" (non-violence, compassion), which means "non-killing" and respects all life.

Two forms of shojin ryori
There are broadly two forms of shojin ryori. One is the simple daily meal eaten by ascetic monks. The other is a beautifully delicate kaiseki-style meal prepared to entertain guests. The monks' meals are sustained by harvests and offerings, never purchased, and are self-sufficient. This strict stance of not creating waste is also part of their training. This sustainable way of life is also the wisdom that has continued to support temples even in difficult times.

Beautiful hospitality cuisine
On the other hand, shojin ryori served to guests possesses a beauty akin to a work of art. Dishes arranged in vibrant vermilion lacquerware are always composed of an odd number of items—3, 5, or 7—with delicate calculations for the harmony of taste and color.

Five Flavors, Five Colors, Five Wisdom Buddhas
The cuisine incorporates a balanced blend of the "five flavors"—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami—and the "five colors"—red, green, white, black, yellow. Through colorful ingredients, it expresses the "Five Wisdom Buddhas," which are also symbols of Buddhism. These five flavors and five colors represent a worldview deeply connected to Buddhism, as seen in mandalas and prayer flags, and in shojin ryori, they are considered complete nutrition for balancing the mind and body.

A dining experience that confronts life
Shojin ryori is not merely vegetarian cuisine; it is a "culinary practice" with deep spirituality, embodying Buddhist values such as gratitude, harmony, moderation, and sustainability. Each dish, with its tranquility, speaks to our hearts.

Sutra copying (shakyo) is one of the traditional Buddhist practices where one carefully traces each character of a sutra with a brush. As you write each stroke with devotion, distracting thoughts quiet down, and your breathing and posture become aligned. Similarly, Buddha copying is a time to quietly face yourself by carefully tracing the image of Buddha stroke by stroke. In most cases, completed sutra copies or Buddha copies can be offered to the temple.

The service (sutra chanting) is a time of prayer before Buddha that monks perform daily without fail. At OTERA STAY, you can participate in these morning and evening services as a guest. Listening to the sound of sutra chanting in the quiet, burning incense, and putting your hands together in prayer is an experience that takes you away from the daily routine of travel and gently places you in the rhythm of temple life. On days when memorial services are held, you may also be present. The times and etiquette for participation vary depending on the temple.