Hidden Tokyo: A Journey of Faith and Pilgrimage

Feel the history and culture of Japan interwoven by Hakone’s water system through experiencing spiritual practice

This two-day and one-night tour will focus on the hidden charms of the western area of Kanagawa.The western area of Kanagawa Prefecture, including Hakone and Odawara, is land that has been nurtured by “millennium spring water” and is home to Hakone Shrine. The area is also blessed with abundant nature in forms such as satoyama and satoumi, which are both traditional land-management systems in which humans and nature interact in harmony, and is dotted with cultural heritage such as temples, shrines, historical buildings, festivals, and events. This tour aims to help you learn the history, culture, traditions, and way of life of the area, as well as to deepen your understanding of the richness of Japanese culture and the profundity of its faith by confining yourself to prayer at the 600-year-old Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, one of the most famous temples in the area, and in visiting Lake Ashinoko, known for the legend of Kuzuryu, the nine-headed dragon.
A priest from Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple and an English-speaking guide with local ties will accompany you on the trip.