Special Experiential Tour of Oshi Culture: The Rare Remnants of a Culture with a 1,200-Year History

A spiritual tour to encounter Oshi culture and its 1,200-year history of mountain worship, as explored through waterfall training and meditation practices.

・This is a guided tour to experience the history and practices surrounding Mt. Mitake, a culture which dates back 1,200 years.
・An oshi is a practitioner of mountain worship who lives on a mountain and guides the faithful.
・Mountain worship refers to a belief in self-improvement, in which the mountains themselves are viewed as sacred objects to be honored. It is because of this that oshi work to carefully preserve and pass the mountains on to their descendants. The practice is based on sustainable living.
・The tour will include waterfall training and meditation practices under the direct guidance of an oshi. This sort of practice is the origin of modern day practices like Zen and mindfulness.
・The accommodation for participants of this program will be at a lodging house run by an oshi, known as a shukubo.
・The guide will take participants to hidden gems that one might normally pass right by, such as Musashi Mitake Shrine, Okunoin Temple and its sacred statue, and the Futomani Festival site. This is a secret festival that has been passed down since ancient times.
・Participants will be accompanied by a guide that is familiar with the area, so they will be able to experience the local lifestyle and culture in depth, and even enjoy interacting with the locals.
・This is a guided tour to experience a traditional Japanese style of sustainable living.
・The guides that will accompany the tour are internationally certified in outdoor first aid, environmental ethics, and outdoor activity skills.
・The location is very accessible, as it is only about 90 minutes away from central Tokyo.