Spiritual Retreat and Forest Pilgrimage at Senkoji Temple in Hida Takayama

Experience the Connection Between Nature and People at Senkoji Temple

Located in the eastern reaches of Hida, northeast of the Takayama Basin, Senkoji Temple sits on a mountain long revered as sacred. Here, nature itself has been the focus of prayer for generations, a clear expression of Japan’s spiritual bond with the land.
In ancient times, the area was part of a pilgrimage route to Mt. Norikura, a peak worshipped as the place where the sun begins its climb. Travelers once made their way from the town of Takayama through the satoyama woodlands, pausing at Senkoji Temple to rest their bodies and steady their minds before venturing further into the mountains.

Senkoji Temple main hall

Much of Senkoji’s written history was lost during the conflicts of 450 years ago. Still, local tradition tells of the 17th-century monk Enku, who once stayed here, carving statues of the Buddha for villagers seeking spiritual comfort.
Today, the temple remains a meeting point of forest, prayer, and memory. It stands as the first step on a path that invites reflection on how deeply the mountains are woven into Japanese life.

Evidence-Based Relaxing Meditation

Pilgrims once came to Senkoji Temple to restore both mind and body. Surrounded by the tranquility of the mountains, your attention naturally turns inward. As your breathing deepens, your mind begins to quiet.

Under the guidance of a senior priest, you will receive careful instruction

Here, you will take part in Senkoji Temple’s original meditation program: Clinical Meditation. Developed in collaboration with Kyoto University by the temple’s guiding figure, Senior Priest Daien Oshita, this method draws from years of spiritual training and has been applied in medical, nursing, and corporate wellness settings.

2-hour "Relaxing Meditation" experience

The program begins with “Relaxing Meditation,” the first of four stages. By gently sustaining your breath over time, your parasympathetic nervous system is activated, gradually easing both physical and mental tension.
As your mind settles, your senses sharpen. This heightened awareness will make your walk through the forest and your time with the Buddhist statues feel richer. This practice centers your awareness, allowing you to engage more fully with the spiritual presence and natural rhythm that define this place.

Encountering Buddhist Statues Close to the Common People at Senkoji’s Enku Buddha Treasure Hall

At Senkoji’s Enku Buddha Treasure Hall, you will be guided by the head priest to view statues carved by Enku, a monk active in the early Edo period (1603–1868). Enku spent nearly 30 years traveling across Japan, carving Buddhist figures for everyday people. It is said he created as many as 120,000 statues—an extraordinary legacy for a single sculptor.

At the Treasure Hall, you will receive a special tour guided by an elder or the head priest

During his time in Hida Takayama, Enku left behind more than 1,600 works in Gifu Prefecture. The Treasure Hall preserves 64 of them. His bold chisel marks and sculptural use of wood grain and cracks reveal both an unvarnished aesthetic and the depth of his faith.

Ryōmen Sukuna Seated Statue with faces on both the front and back

Among the collection are striking Nio statues carved directly from standing trees, and the Ryōmen Sukuna Seated Statue, featuring two faces, front and back. Their forms are simple yet quietly expressive. Unlike ornate statues made for the elite, Enku’s works were spiritual companions for farmers and travelers, made to comfort, not to impress. They remain deeply resonant to this day.

A vegetarian bento lunch centered around vegetables, including tempura and simmered dishes

After your visit, enjoy a vegetarian bento lunch prepared with seasonal mountain ingredients. Following Buddhist principles, this plant-based meal of vegetables, beans, and seaweed is designed to restore balance to both body and mind. As you dine, conversations with the head priest or elders offer moments of warmth, insight, and renewal.

A Quiet Time of Prayer While Walking the 88 Temple Pilgrimage Route

Next, you will hike a portion of the approximately 3-kilometer trail known as the 88 Temple Pilgrimage Route, which winds through the mountains surrounding Senkoji Temple. Originally a 1,200-kilometer ascetic training path that spans the island of Shikoku, this shorter course offers a way to experience its spirit without leaving the region. As you pause to pray at each shrine, your mind calms, creating space for reflection. The sensory awareness awakened during meditation carries over, allowing your five senses to fully engage with the natural surroundings.

Walk the 88 Temple Pilgrimage Route while praying at the shrine

The highlight of the trail is the Gohonsugi ("Five Cedars"), a nationally designated natural monument. This cedar tree, over 1,200 years old, splits into three trunks about six meters above the ground, then divides again into two, creating a striking formation of five branches reaching into the sky. Its immense presence and serenity encourage you to stop, breathe deeply, and simply observe.

Gohonsugi, a sacred tree over 1,200 years old

Along the way, you will pass Atago Shrine, dedicated to the god of fire, and encounter a small rest area where you may drink from a natural spring. As you continue, your connection to the land deepens. The tempo of your steps, the sound of leaves, and the feel of mountain air come together in a setting where prayer and nature are inseparable.

Goma Fire: Pour Your Wishes Into the Fire

After settling your mind through meditation and walking, you may take part in the goma fire ritual, an ancient ceremony passed down at Senkoji Temple (an additional fee applies). This sacred practice, rooted in the Shingon tradition of Buddhism, involves placing firewood and small wooden sticks called gomagi into a central hearth. It is believed that the flames carry each person's wishes to the Buddha.

The flames of the gomagi rise vigorously, engulfing the prayer space

The ceremony begins with the head priest and elders purifying the space through chanting and drumming. Participants then offer prayers, gently placing their gomagi sticks, inscribed with personal wishes, into the fire. As the flames rise and smoke surrounds you, there is a powerful sense of release, of burdens and lingering thoughts being gradually burned away.

Entrust your wishes to the blazing goma flames

With the resonant chant of Shingon sutras, the rhythm of drums, and the crackling sound of burning wood, every sense becomes engaged. The moment is intense and immersive, inviting deep inner clarity. Like a final stage of meditation, the goma fire ritual becomes a transformative experience, one that marks your journey with meaning and stays with you long after you leave.

Experience a Culture of Living With the Mountains and a Pristine Landscape of Prayer

This experience goes beyond the scenery to show how Japan’s way of life is intertwined with the natural world. For centuries, mountains and forests have been both sacred and practical, worshipped as divine and relied upon for daily sustenance. Water, trees, wind, stones, each holds life, and each is treated with gratitude and respect. That spirit continues to live on.

During prayer, the monks' sutra chanting elevates the atmosphere to a sacred one

To hear the natural world—the rustle of leaves, the sound of wind—is to notice what the city so often silences. In Hida Takayama, this simple act becomes a reminder of how closely people and mountains are intertwined. It is a chance to witness a way of being that still honors the spirit of the land.