“To study Buddhism is to study ourselves. To study ourselves is to forget ourselves.” 

– Dōgen Zenji, founder of the Sōtō school of Zen

Enjoy your breakfast at Suiden Terrasse. Shortly after, we will travel a short distance to Zenpoji Temple. Today, you will learn about the foundations of Zen and experience sitting meditation. 

Later, we will travel toward the Dewa Sanzan mountains and make our home for the next two nights as students of the Yamabushi. 

The Yamabushi are the ancient mountain ascetics of Japan. Their traditional role was to help guide people to find their true nature, and to teach discipline and the way of the warrior. Although they are mostly hidden from public life these days, and their numbers are few, the work they do has not changed. What they offer to the world is now more relevant than ever.

The Yamabushi practice Shugendo. Shugendo is an ancient belief with its origins in 8th Century Japan. It is a fusion of Shinto, Buddhism, Animism, and mountain faith. Shugendo has always been a path for those who want to strip away the excesses of the world, and who want to understand themselves better by immersing themselves in the power and strength of the natural world.

Accommodation: Daishinbo Shukubo (Shared Room - no solo room available)

Daishinbo is a Shukubo (Pilgrim's Lodge) for guests who have come to train with the Yamabushi. It is a simple but beautiful lodge, with a beautiful, peaceful ambiance.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

For the ancestors, times of strife called for a trip to the mountains. The Dewa Sanzan are known as a place of rebirth, and being in the three mountains provided a way to reassess the situation, reflect, and reset. If recent years are anything to go by, now is the time for many of us to enter the mountains.

After a hearty breakfast, we will head up Mt. Haguro under the guidance of a yamabushi. We will pay our respects at important locations along the way and hear lessons of the yamabushi that we can incorporate into our lives. Once at the summit, we will undertake official shrine worship, and have a quiet afternoon of reflection over a selection of locally-sourced tea and snacks. The climax of day two is the evening prayer session that may include Shinto-style meditation, a night walk, and other Yamabushi-led activities near our accommodation in Saikan. 

Accommodation: Shinto Shrine lodging (Shared room -- no solo option)

Tonight, you will literally overnight in a Shinto shrine lodge on the mountain. Once again, your surroundings will be simple, but peaceful and comfortable.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

This morning, we wake up early to partake in a shrine ritual dedicated to the kami (spirits of nature) and have a breakfast of Dewa Sanzan Shojin Ryori (mountain ascetic cuisine). 

Before making our descent down Mt. Haguro, we will explore the kitchens and storehouses of Saikan, one of the main providers of Dewa Sanzan Shojin Ryori. The descent down Mt. Haguro then begins, however we will be taking a special way down the mountain, visiting special yamabushi-related spots. Upon our return to Daishinbo, we'll have a celebratory lunch and return to friendly conversation (however remaining in mindfulness.)

After saying our goodbyes to our Yamabushi teachers, we will travel toward the town of Dake Onsen, where we will spend the next two nights. Upon arrival at our ryokan (Japanese inn) for the evening, hot onsen bath, dinner, and sake await.

Accommodation: Hanakanzashi (Shared room or solo room available)

Established 130 years ago, Hanakanzashi ryokan is rich with heritage but has also been thoughtfully kept up to reflect our contemporary times. Owner Akiko Nihei carries on her family's business, where she and her husband offer traditional kaiseki dinners in the evening and craft coffee in the lobby each morning. A lovely sitting area overlooks a garden courtyard, and free-flow sake is on tap in the evenings. With only 8 guest rooms, this is a quiet and intimate escape.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, we'll set out with our guide and hike up Mt. Adatara to take in the fall colors and views. 

We will have a bento box lunch on the mountain, and then will explore a wild onsen, which is the source of the onsen water in the town of Dake Onsen. The water travels 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) from its source to the town where it feeds the various onsen baths at each of the town's inns. Bathing in the wild onsen gives us a chance to appreciate where these bath waters come from when we return to town--connecting us again to nature and how it takes care of us even when we are far from it. 

Accommodations: Hanakanzashi (shared room -- solo option available)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today after breakfast and a relaxed coffee, we'll transit through a scenic area en route to Hinoemata Village. This isolated region of Okuaizu is surrounded by mountains, and offers a magnificent landscape of lakes and beautiful valleys. During this time, you have a chance to reflect and integrate on all of the trip so far. 

Hinoemata Village has a population of less than 600 people. It is known for having the lowest population density of any municipality in Japan. Tucked into a mountain valley, the village is the gateway to the Ozegahara wetlands, which we will discover the next day. 

Hinoemata is famous for its 100% buckwheat soba noodles, and its cuisine known as Yamodo. When we reach our inn for the night, we'll have a chance for hot onsen baths before tucking into an early dinner.

Accommodation: Seseragi no Yado Oseno 

(shared room - solo option maybe available)

Enjoy a Japanese-style room with a view of the beautiful seasonal scenery of the Hijigi River Valley, with the sounds of wild birds and the river flowing right in front of you. We serve handmade food made from the blessings of the mountains and fresh produce from our fields.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we'll depart Hinoemata Village and begin what will be the most active day of our entire trip. 

Today, we have an 11-mile hike. It is mostly flat, and passes through vast fields of wetland, a serene lake, and beautiful autumn mountain scenery. 

While walking, we invite you to contemplate your appreciation of yourself for gifting you with this experience. We also encourage you to consider that, long ago, this land's protection was the effort of concerned Japanese citizens, who fought against government and commercial forces to create its status as a National Park. Without their action, this biodiverse land would have been given up to industry development. As we enjoy being here today, we'll also talk with our local guide to learn more about the importance of land conservation and biodiversity, and how we can play a role in protecting such lands in our own communities. 

Upon completion of our hike, we'll drive to Hoshi Onsen, a historic inn and our home for our final two nights. 

Accommodation: Hoshi Onsen (Shared room -- solo option available)

Hoshi Onsen, tucked into a mountain forest, is a 140 year old inn that has been run continuously by one family over the generations. Possibly with a couple of Japan's most beautiful baths onsite, we are lucky to spend two nights here.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (packed on hike), Dinner

After breakfast, we'll take a leisurely walk on the Mikuni Kaido trail to spot some waterfalls and autumn colors. 

For lunch, we'll visit a craft village called Takumi no Sato. After lunch, we'll have a chance to explore the work of the artisans on-site.

Before we convene for our final group dinner, you will have more time to enjoy the baths of Hoshi Onsen and its beautiful surroundings. 

Over dinner, we'll reflect together on all we have experienced and share how we might weave our reverence for the natural world into our lives at home. 

Accommodation: Hoshi Onsen (Shared room -- solo option available)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we'll check out of Hoshi Onsen and travel together to the Jomo Kogen train station. From here, you will be on your own to decide where to go next (we will arrive in time to catch an afternoon train to Tokyo, where you can transfer toward other destinations in Japan.) 

Meals: Breakfast