CULTURAL IMMERSION IN JAPAN
Zazen Mediation with a Buddhist Monk at TENNEIJI TEMPLE visit.
This temple is located in the northern part of the city in the Oro valley enveloped in rich natural surroundings. Constructed during the Nanboku-cho period (Northern and Southern Courts period), this was the temple of the 4th Muromachi Shogun Yoshimochi. The temple grounds are lined with halls, and the temple is well known for its many treasures and valuable cultural assets.
This temple is located in the northern part of the city in the Oro valley enveloped in rich natural surroundings. Constructed during the Nanboku-cho period (Northern and Southern Courts period), this was the temple of the 4th Muromachi Shogun Yoshimochi. The temple grounds are lined with halls, and the temple is well known for its many treasures and valuable cultural assets.
ONSEN - NATURAL HOT SPRING BATHS
These natural springs are well known for helping ease neuralgia, muscle rheumatisms, poor blood circulation, as well as increasing general energy levels and combatting fatigue. Many Westerners are uncomfortable with anyone seeing their naked bodies, but being naked with friends and strangers is a traditional practice in. It happens every day in hot springs across Japan as it has for thousands of years. Bathing together is a healthy, relaxing, and bonding experience.
A special kind of platonic friendship develops when people do not hide behind their clothes. In Japanese, these relationship is called hadaka no tsukiai. People tend to shed their pretensions when they remove their clothes. The only cloth that bathers may bring into most hot springs is a small towel that barely covers the private parts.
IMAGE: Onsen at Yakuno on our Yoga Retreat
These natural springs are well known for helping ease neuralgia, muscle rheumatisms, poor blood circulation, as well as increasing general energy levels and combatting fatigue. Many Westerners are uncomfortable with anyone seeing their naked bodies, but being naked with friends and strangers is a traditional practice in. It happens every day in hot springs across Japan as it has for thousands of years. Bathing together is a healthy, relaxing, and bonding experience.
A special kind of platonic friendship develops when people do not hide behind their clothes. In Japanese, these relationship is called hadaka no tsukiai. People tend to shed their pretensions when they remove their clothes. The only cloth that bathers may bring into most hot springs is a small towel that barely covers the private parts.
IMAGE: Onsen at Yakuno on our Yoga Retreat
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JAPANESE CUISINE
Japanese food is refined and elegant, its preparation and presentation honed over the centuries so that its flavours are pure and delicate. Like many of the world's highly developed cuisines, Japanese food celebrates and highlights the flavours, textures and colours of seasonal produce. The first produce of the season is prized.
VIDEO : Learning cooking style from the local women in the village in Yakuno Fukuchiyama
TEA CEREMONY
Chado: Zen and the art of tea. In many minds, the formal tea ceremony is an iconic representation of Japanese culture, and today it is even more ingrained in the Japanese lifestyle. "Tea ceremony" is not the best translation of chado, which literally means "tea way" ("cha" means "tea"; "do" means "way"). Mindfulness is essential to Zen practice. A wandering mind leads to mistakes in form. Guests sip tea from a single bowl, which is passed among them according to ritual. When to bow, when to speak, how to handle the bowl--all follow precise forms. When participants are fully engaged, the ritual evokes great peace and great clarity, a non-dualistic consciousness and a deep intimacy with oneself and the others present.
VIDEO: Experiencing introduction to the Tea Ceremony on our Yoga Retreat in Yakuno Fukuchiyama.
Chado: Zen and the art of tea. In many minds, the formal tea ceremony is an iconic representation of Japanese culture, and today it is even more ingrained in the Japanese lifestyle. "Tea ceremony" is not the best translation of chado, which literally means "tea way" ("cha" means "tea"; "do" means "way"). Mindfulness is essential to Zen practice. A wandering mind leads to mistakes in form. Guests sip tea from a single bowl, which is passed among them according to ritual. When to bow, when to speak, how to handle the bowl--all follow precise forms. When participants are fully engaged, the ritual evokes great peace and great clarity, a non-dualistic consciousness and a deep intimacy with oneself and the others present.
VIDEO: Experiencing introduction to the Tea Ceremony on our Yoga Retreat in Yakuno Fukuchiyama.
GEISHA /MAIKO
Geisha (or geiko) are professional entertainers who attend guests during meals, banquets and other occasions. They are trained in various traditional Japanese arts, such as dance and music, as well as in the art of communication. Their role is to make guests feel at ease with conversation, drinking games and dance performances. Geiko dinners have always been exclusive and expensive, high class events. But like other businesses, the Ochaya have been suffering from the economic downturn in recent decades. As a result, they have become less restrictive.
VIDEO: Private Dinner with a Geisha/Maiko in Kyoto on our Yoga Retreat.
Geisha (or geiko) are professional entertainers who attend guests during meals, banquets and other occasions. They are trained in various traditional Japanese arts, such as dance and music, as well as in the art of communication. Their role is to make guests feel at ease with conversation, drinking games and dance performances. Geiko dinners have always been exclusive and expensive, high class events. But like other businesses, the Ochaya have been suffering from the economic downturn in recent decades. As a result, they have become less restrictive.
VIDEO: Private Dinner with a Geisha/Maiko in Kyoto on our Yoga Retreat.
FUKUCHIYAMA CITY
Fukuchiyama is a peaceful, old castle town located in the north west of Kyoto Prefecture, in the Tamba area, just over an hour by train from Kyoto. Fukuchiyama's main attraction is Fukuchiyama Castle a short walk to your right out of the northern exit of Fukuchiyama Station, just past City Hall. Fukuchiyama Castle was built by Akechi Mitsuhide in 1576, a general in the army of Oda Nobunaga and the man whose treachery lead to Nobunaga's death in Honnoji Tempein Kyoto.After the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Fukuchiyama Castle was renovated by Arima Toyoji before passing into the hands of the Kutsuki clan. The castle was dismantled at the beginning of the Meiji Period in 1872 before being painstakingly and tastefully reconstructed in 1986.
There are good views from Fukuchiyama Castle out over the Yura River and the grounds include the deepest well of any Japanese castle - the toyoiwa-no-i. The interior of the castle is a small museum.
The surrounding Jokamachi area has a number of surviving wooden buildings.
VIDEO: Promotional Video by Fukuchiyama City
Fukuchiyama is a peaceful, old castle town located in the north west of Kyoto Prefecture, in the Tamba area, just over an hour by train from Kyoto. Fukuchiyama's main attraction is Fukuchiyama Castle a short walk to your right out of the northern exit of Fukuchiyama Station, just past City Hall. Fukuchiyama Castle was built by Akechi Mitsuhide in 1576, a general in the army of Oda Nobunaga and the man whose treachery lead to Nobunaga's death in Honnoji Tempein Kyoto.After the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Fukuchiyama Castle was renovated by Arima Toyoji before passing into the hands of the Kutsuki clan. The castle was dismantled at the beginning of the Meiji Period in 1872 before being painstakingly and tastefully reconstructed in 1986.
There are good views from Fukuchiyama Castle out over the Yura River and the grounds include the deepest well of any Japanese castle - the toyoiwa-no-i. The interior of the castle is a small museum.
The surrounding Jokamachi area has a number of surviving wooden buildings.
VIDEO: Promotional Video by Fukuchiyama City