Visiting where it all began.
The long 112km ridge stretching from Wakayama to Nara, at the prefectural border between Osaka and Wakayama, is called Katsuragi. It has been worshipped by people as the mountains where gods live, that led to the birth of Shugendo –a unique syncretic religion of mountain worship and Buddhism, and Shinto.
Around the 7th century, the founder of Shugendo, En-no-Gyoja, had begun his first training at Katsuragi. Katsuragi Shugendo has been passed down for more than 1300 years since its birth.
On this tour, a real Yamabushi (mountain ascetic) will guide your through the training paths of the birthplace of Shugendo. You can also enjoy the local gourmet meals of the Katsuragi area.
01
The Birthplace of Shugendo
~the beautiful ocean of Kada~
This tour will take you to the very beginning of Katsuragi Shugen. Tomogashima island with the first Sutra Mound is located, where it all began, and the ruins or Shimpuku-ji Temple where the second Sutra is buried. In the premium tour, a real Yamabushi will accompany you to the Ajigamine Gyojado training hall where you can join the gomadaki ceremony and ride an RIB boat out in the ocean to visit Tomogashima island where the first sutra mound rests.
For lunch and dinner, you can taste the local-caught fresh seafood like the famous red seabream. You can also enjoy a relaxing soak in an onsen on this tour.
*There are two plans to choose from, a) a guided tour by a tour guide, or b) a premium guided tour by a tour guide and a Yamabushi from Shogoin Temple (Kyoto), the head temple of Shugendo.
02
Rediscover yourself by Hiking with a Yamabushi
--Kisen Alps/ Yamanakadani
In this tour you can trek among Mount Daifuku and visit the sacred Sutra Mounds with a real Shugendo practitioner. Enjoy a delicious meal of seldom-on-the-market Kuroushi beef and local seafood. The tour stops by the Naniwa Sake Brewery established in the Edo period for some sake tasting and shopping.
The Birthplace of Shugendo –the beautiful ocean of Kada—
The tour begins from Rinku-town, Osaka.
The Second Sutra Mound –the ruins of Jinpuku-ji Temple–
A taxi will take you near the second sutra mound where you change into a white robe before you start the 20-minute walk to the sacred mound.
The ancient road will lead you to the ruins of Jinpuku-ji Temple where the second sutra is buried.
After paying respect and hearing the guide’s lecture, you head back to the taxi which takes you to Kada port.
Shugendo Cruise – visiting the First Sutra Mound--
The first sutra mound is located on an island which means you must take a boat to visit the sacred spot.
The engravings on the monolith found on the island is worth seeing since this is the one and only Yamabushi training spot in the middle of the sea.
The cruise handled by a local fisherman is very smooth and lasts for about 50 minutes.
Lunch at Inasa
Kada is very famous for its abundant seafood.
Especially, the red seabreams caught by a special local fishing method are known for their freshness and delicious, firm texture.
Enjoy the local fresh seafood course cooked by a skilled chef.
Take a Stroll Around the town of Kada
There are some interesting shrines and temples you can visit in the rural fishing port town of Kada.
Awashima Shrine is famous for its Hina-doll festival and Kada Kasuga Shrine is a small shrine that has been worshipped by the local fishermen for more than 400 years.
A dip in the Onsen
※ The actual bath may differ.
The hot spring of Kada is clear, and it is said to make your skin soft and smooth.
Take a dip in the bath to reset your body after a long day.
Sushi Dinner at Sushiyoshi
Next, you will be taken to a sushi restaurant in Masaki town, Osaka. Enjoy the seasonal seafood and sushi for dinner!
Fun Shopping at Road Station Misaki
From locally grown vegetables to roasted coffee beans – have fun shopping, or just looking at, the fresh food.
A Fun Daytrip at the Ocean of Kada
Seeing and experiencing the history of Shugendo from a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) is something you can never do elsewhere!
The local seafood and the view from the Onsen will take your breath away.
Come and experience this unique Shugendo tour in Wakayama and Osaka.
The Birthplace of Shugendo –the beautiful ocean of Kada—
The tour begins from Rinku-town, Osaka.
Visiting the Sutra Mound with a Yamabushi
This tour is guided by a real Yamabushi (mountain priest) of Shogoin Temple of Kyoto.
The Yamabushi will join you at Kada and lead the way to the second sutra mound which is located at the ruins of Jimpuku-ji Temple.
Everyone will gear up in a white robe to pay respect to the mountain.
At the sacred mound, the Yamabushi blows in his conch, followed by chanting and praying.
Afterwards, you can listen to the story of Shugendo, which has been worshipped by many for more than 1300 years.
It is a unique and rare experience where you can truly feel the long history of Shugendo,and deeply appreciate the meaning of inheriting this mountain worship even during this modern era.
Cruising to the First Sutra Mound in a RIB
Zooming out in the ocean on a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) is one thing, but riding it with a real Yamabushi to visit the sacred sutra mound is another thing.
The training spot you can see from the boat is truly outstanding.
The sight of the relief engraved on a monolith located on the island is something you will never forget.
The mountain priests gather to this place every April to train and pay respect in the cave at the foot of the monolith.
You can hear about the training from the Yamabushi himself, and also about how this place is extremely unique for its location, it being in the middle of the ocean although it is a mountain worship religion.
The 50-minute cruise is as smooth as it can be with the local fisherman handling the RIB.
Lunch at Inasa
Kada is very famous for its abundant seafood.
Especially, the red seabreams caught by a special local fishing method are known for their freshness and delicious, firm texture.
Enjoy the local fresh seafood course cooked by a skilled chef.
Take a Stroll Around the town of Kada
There are some interesting shrines and temples you can visit in the rural fishing port town of Kada.
Awashima Shrine is famous for its Hina-doll festival and Kada Kasuga Shrine is a small shrine that has been worshipped by the local fishermen for more than 400 years.
The Goma Fire Ritual at Ajigamine Gyoja-do
There is a Training Hall called Ajigamine Gyoja-do at the end of the steep stairs on top of a hill where you can enjoy the view of Tomogashima Island.
This is where the founder of Shugendo, En-no-Gyoja, is enshrined.
In this tour, you can experience the Goma Fire Ritual held by a Yamabushi at the Ajigamine Gyoja-do.
Each participant will be given a piece of Goma wood on which you write down your wish; family safety, business prosperity, academic achievement, etc.
The Yamabushi will perform a fire ritual and pray for the participants.
This sacred ritual is a rare opportunity that even the Japanese cannot easily experience.
A dip in the Onsen
※ The actual bath may differ.
The hot spring of Kada is clear, and it is said to make your skin soft and smooth.
Take a dip in the bath to reset your body after a long day.
Sushi Dinner at Sushiyoshi
Next, you will be taken to a sushi restaurant in Masaki town, Osaka. Enjoy the seasonal seafood and sushi for dinner!
Fun Shopping at Road Station Misaki
From locally grown vegetables to roasted coffee beans – have fun shopping, or just looking at, the fresh food.
A Special Experience at the Sea of Kada
Experiencing the historical fire ritual and learning about the mountain worship religion from a real Yamabushi is a truly unique opportunity to feel and know the path of Shugendo.
Some of the interesting stories and their way of thinking that you can hear from the mountain priest are not written on any websites or history books.
This is what makes this tour very special, something you can never experience elsewhere.
Come and experience this unique Shugendo tour in Wakayama and Osaka. You will not regret it!
The tour begins from Rinku-town, Osaka.
A taxi takes you to the post-town of Yamanakadani in the southern area of Osaka with a Yamabushi riding along with you.
During the spring season, the full bloom of cherry blossoms will await you.
The fourth Sutra Mound
At the fourth Sutra Mound the Yamabushi blows on his conch and prays for a safe journey.
Trekking
Starting the four hour trek to the third Sutra Mound in Daifuku mountain. You gear up with a white robe and step onto the wild trail led by the Yamabushi.
When the path becomes steep, the Yamabushi cries out a prayer which everyone joins in for this mantra would help the energy in your body to keep in going forward. It feels like your body starts to blend in with this mantra, clearing your mind of distracting thoughts. It is just you, the mantra, and the mountain.
“Sange sange, rokkon sho-jo”
The mantra chanted while trekking means, “In the world where the gods and buddha rules (sange), the sweat from your body will purify(sho-jo) your eyes, ears, nose, togue, body, and spirit(rokkon).”
At the mountain top, a splendid view of two lands awaits you. Soak in the beautiful contrast of the blue ocean of Osaka and the green mountains of Wakayama.
After paying respect to the third Sutra Mound of Katsuragi Shugendo, you can enjoy a special bento-box lunch of local seafood and vegetables at the mountain top.
The fabulous scenery and the delicious lunch will recharge your energy for the trip back to the base of the mountain which is a two hour walk.
Sake Brewery
The next stop is Naniwa Shuzo sake brewery founded in 1716, the oldest in Osaka Prefecture.
The owner of the brewery guides you around where sake is being brewed. They have been using water that comes from a well in this area since they started making sake.
The brewery is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan, so you can actually feel the history through the building and the atmosphere.
Dinner
Dinner for this tour would be a very seldom-on-the-market wagyu, Naniwa Kuroushi at YAMAYOSHI. Savor the beef in various cooking. Try the meat that melts in your mouth yakiniku (grilled beef) style, sukiyaki style, and more.
Nothing is better than a tasty beef dinner after a long day’s hike!
Experience an unforgettable day.
Soak in the spirit of Japan’s mountain worship by actually trekking with a real monk. Sample sake and the local gourmet of southern Osaka.
By the end of the day full of activities, you might feel a little bit purified than you did in the morning.