Connect with Your Spiritual Side with a Mountain Hike

Find your inner peace with a nature hike in Kochi, led by a practicing monk

Shugendo is a unique Japanese religion combining beliefs, practices, rituals, and philosophies from Shintoism, Buddhism, and a number of folk religions. This blend of spirituality focuses on mountains, as they are often both the object of and location for      worship. Travel away from the stresses of the city to Hidaka Village in Kochi Prefecture by spending a day on a special hike of beautiful Mt. Otaki.

In the program offered by the Hidakamura Tourism Association, you will be guided by an English-speaking monk who will help you reconnect with nature using all five senses— a core Shugendo spiritual practice. Starting from the village information center, he will take you to Gokokuji Temple, his home temple, to explain firsthand about Shugendo  before you start your mountain hike. A spectacular view from the top of the mountain awaits, and you can even experience a bit of a thrill by doing some caving during your expedition. After working up an appetite, enjoy a delightful lunch of vegan cuisine in a non-plastic disposable container or an eco-friendly, reusable lunch box.

This is an excellent chance to meet village dwellers and spiritual leaders alike. Reconnect with humans, nature, and yourself. The hike is about 12 kilometers; a shorter version of the course is also available.

Access: It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Kochi Ryoma Airport; from there, go to Kochi Station by car (about 40 minutes, using toll roads); alternatively, take the Limousine Airport bus (about 30 minutes). Then take the Dosan Line train to Okabana Station (about 30 minutes); the meeting place is about a 10-minute walk from the station.

Hidakamura Tourism Association