Day 8

This morning was a sad day, as we left our hotel in Tokyo for the last time. I have thoroughly enjoyed being in Tokyo, and I was sorry to leave it behind. One could spend weeks there and not see everything.

However, it is now time to explore other parts of Japan. Rural customs and culture still exist outside of the towering modern cities of Japan. For the first time in program history, our group is being allowed to stay in a Buddhist temple on top of a mountain. This is a great privilege, and our group is not taking it lightly.

Before arriving at the temple we spent the entire day traveling. We took the bullet train across Japan. Being on the train was similar to being on an airplane, and it made me dread the long 13 hour flight back to the United States. I was glad that I had packed lightly, as we had to carry our suitcases up and down many sets of stairs. The travel made for a tiring day. The path that we followed was once a popular trade route in Japan, connecting major ports to inland cities by river.

After leaving the bullet train, we took some local trains to Koya-San, where the temple is located. To get up the mountain, we took a cable car, which gave us an excellent view of the beautiful mountainside. We had so much luggage that some of our members were almost left behind when trying to get on the cable car. At the top of the mountain, we took a bus to the temple.

The temple where we are staying is one of the most holy sites in Japan. Buddhism has several different sites where the deceased can experience heaven, and one of those sites is here. The temple is very serene, and lacks the hustle and bustle associated with Tokyo. The mountain air is fresh and clean compared with the smoggy haze that hangs over Tokyo, and tonight I can even see the stars.

(The temple entrance)

When we arrived at the temple, we took our shoes off and I have not put mine back on since. The mats are traditional bamboo mats, and we take our shoes off both to preserve them and out of respect for the temple. Tonight we are sleeping on the floor on mattresses, in classic Japanese fashion.

(My bed on the floor)

After eating a dinner in town, we came back to the temple and put on our traditional Japanese Yukata, two robes that one wears in place of all clothes. While they were optional, many of the guys put them on, and they are actually quite comfortable. The other piece of the cultural experience was the traditional Japanese bath. Before getting in the bath, we showered and cleaned ourselves completely. We then entered the bath, which is very similar to a hot tub. It was extremely relaxing, and helped easy away the aches and pains of a tired traveler. It also made me very sleepy, and since we have to get up early tomorrow for the ceremony, so I am going to bed.

(Me in my Yukata)