Experience

Shinshoji (神勝寺)

At Shinshoji, a Zen Buddhist temple about a 30-minute bus ride from JR Fukuyama Station, you can experience zazen (Zen meditation) and sutra copying. You can choose between a one-day Zen meditation experience or a two-day overnight Zen meditation experience, both of which allow you to experience both zazen and sutra copying. There is also a teahouse where you can drink green tea and an udon noodle shop where you can try Shinshoji udon, the only item on the menu.

Experience Fee – ¥1,000~
※ Reservations required

Moment of Joy

At Shinshoji, you can experience the Zen practice of eliminating distractions and facing the deepest part of yourself. You can learn about the philosophy of Zen Buddhism through such activities as zazen, in which you prepare your body, breath, and mind to become mindless, and sutra copying, in which you concentrate only on writing the Heart Sutra without any evil thoughts or distractions. You will need to wear comfortable clothes (no skirts) when meditating, and if you’re lucky, you may be instructed by the one English-speaking monk who works there (not guaranteed, even with a reservation).