• Yoshino, famous for its cherry blossoms, is also the birthplace of a mystic religion called Shugen-do that draws elements from Buddhism, Shintoism, and animism. While walking through this temple town you might be able to see practitioners clad in their peculiar costumes and hear the sound of the giant conch being blown.
• The three fierce-looking main statues of Zao-do Hall are exhibited only for a limited period of time a year in spring and in fall. We can look at them really closely and in peace and quiet.
• Moreover we will visit a sweets shop that makes a special kind of sweet typical of this region and the gorgeous room where emperors ruled from 1336 to 1392.
• Nature, culture, and history all come together in this exciting and extraordinary tour that will give you new insights into Japan.

After climbing up a slope by bus and on foot, we will arrive at the village of Yoshino which has developed on a ridge about 300 m above sea level. As we walk on the street lined with shops on the right and left, we will reach the imposing temple gate Nio (national treasure) with two powerful statues of Kongo Rikishi (fierce guardian gods) in it. The biggest building in the precincts of Kinpusen-ji Temple is the Zao-do Hall (national treasure) which is said to be the second largest wooden building in Japan. One wonders how people built this huge structure up on a mountain in the 9th century. Mountain monks of Shugen-do train and discipline themselves here and pray for people’s peace of mind. Devotional services take place every morning and evening, and we will watch the powerful Goma (fire) offering starting at 11:00 am. From spring and in fall, the 7-meter tall, blue-skinned statues of Yao Gongen, the protector deities of the Yoshino area, can be seen by the public.