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Gachirinkan Meditation at Hashikuraji Temple

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Gachirinkan Meditation at Hashikuraji Temple

Practice a special meditation at this 1,000-year-old temple in western Tokushima

Institute Soranosato

Esoteric Buddhism has a special meditation known as Gachirinkan, or Full Moon meditation. This calming and insightful meditation is practiced by focusing on an Ajikan Honzon, an image of a full moon overlaid with the Sanskrit character ”A,” or a Gachirinkan Honzon, an image of the moon. To experience the full benefit of this meditation, it is recommended to be guided by an expert, such as the chief priest at Hashikuraji Temple in western Tokushima Prefecture.

The cable car ride to this 1,000 year old temple, 600 meters up the slopes of the Sanuki Mountains and overlooking the Yoshino River, provides stunning views that will begin to calm your soul. Upon reaching the head temple of the Shingon Omuro Buddhist sect, you’ll be greeted by the priest who will assist you in engaging in around one and a half hours of quiet self-reflection. The meditation session comes with a gift of floral incense. Afterwards, the chief priest will lead you on a tour of the temple grounds. Meditation sessions are held year-round and need to be booked at least by 17:00 on the day before your planned visit. There must be a minimum of two participants.

How to get there

From Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama Station (about 50 minutes). Then, take the JR Limited Express to Awa-Ikeda Station (about 1 hour). From there, it is about 15 minutes by taxi from JR Awa-ikeda Station.

1006 Kuratani, Shuzu, Ikeda-cho, Miyoshi-shi, Tokushima-ken