The tour begins at Nagano Station at 12:15, where your guide will greet you and begin your pilgrimage walk along the ‘Omotesando’ – the historic main road of Nagano – towards your ultimate goal of Zenkoji, first stopping at the small, but beautiful temple of Saiko-ji. Dedicated to Jurojin – one of Japan’s ‘shichifukujin’ or ‘7 Lucky Gods’ – Saiko-ji is the ideal place to begin your exploration of Nagano, a temple town known for its traditional food culture and the longevity it affords. Indeed, Jurojin is associated with long life and will point you towards your next stop and first tasty treat of the tour – ‘oyaki’.

‘Oyaki’ dumplings are made from fermented buckwheat dough and rice powder, filled with all manner of vegetables, fruit, or ‘anko’ bean paste. Simple, healthy, and tasty, they are baked on an iron pan over a raised fire, an experience you’ll enjoy for yourself as they are baked for you before enjoying them as a simple lunch. From there you head to nearby Imanishiki Sake Brewery, for a memorable ‘sake’ tasting experience. Find out why Nagano Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading sake brewing areas, while tasting of some of the region’s best ‘sake.’

Only a short walk away from the brewery, drop off your luggage at the ‘shukubo,’ and begin your guided tour of Zenkoji Temple. Your guide will reveal its storied history and secrets, while also explaining the role of Buddhism in Japan in an enjoyable and engaging way as you head towards the site of the ‘goma’ prayer fire ceremony. The burning of prayers in the sacred flame imbues the experience with a deep spirituality and is often found to rid participants of their immediate, worldly concerns. Whether you are a practising Buddhist or seeking a memorable and meaningful experience while in Japan, ‘goma’ prayer will leave a deep and lasting impression on you.

After the fire ceremony, your tour guide will help you check-in at your ‘shukubo’, show you around the temple lodging, and explain all you need to know about your stay. Lastly, it is time for one of the most classic Japanese experiences: the tea ceremony. Known broadly as “sadō,” or a system of etiquette for the serving of tea by a host to a guest to promote wellbeing, mindfulness, and harmony. The tea ceremony is very important in Japanese culture because it used to be practised only by the elite Buddhist monks and noble warlords for most of history. Only a short walk away from the temple, you will have the chance to immerse yourself in a tea ceremony while learning the art and performance of this authentic Japanese experience.

Your tour concludes, where your guide will say their goodbyes, leaving you to explore further around the temple or walk to your ‘shukubo’ accommodation to enjoy the rest of your evening.