Guidance

This section contains information for participants.

Table of contents
1. Where to stay
2. Duration
3. Access
4. Climate
5. What to bring
6. Meals
7. Costs
8. Other
9. Contact details
↓　New
10. Daily schedule
11. About Recording and Video Recording

1. Where to stay

Shigisan, Gyokuzo-in.

https://gyokuzo.com/en/

2280, Shikisan, Heguri-machi, Ikoma-gun, Nara-ken

+81-745-72-2881

Gyokuzo-in is one of the temples in Shigisan, which offers temple lodging for visiting pilgrims and tourists. Please note, however, that it is different from western style hotels' service. We should respect culture of the temple. 

Gyokuzo-in will offer Japanese tatami room, paper sliding doors (sho-ji) and shared toilets, sinks and baths. Bedding is provided in form of futons that are set on the tatami floor during the night. 

Basically we will share a room with 4-6 participants. Private rooms are not available. Please be advised that all rooms will be shared.

* Please note that it is not possible to stay overnight at Gyokuso-in (temple) on the day before the training. Please find your own nearby accommodation by yourself the day before.

2. Duration

The training starts from Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 July 2023.
The meeting place is Gyokuzo-in.

Practice on the first day is scheduled to start at around 10:30 am.

Please arrive at the temple by10am.

The training will be end at around 2pm on the last day, after lunch.

3. Access

Please book your flight to Kansai international Airport (KIX).
For domestic flights, book Kansai Airport (KIX), Itami Airport (ITM) or Kobe Airport (UKB).

From the airport, take a train to JR Oji Station.
It takes about 10 minutes by taxi from Oji Station to Gyokuzo-in.

If you take a taxi directly from the airport to Gyokuzo-in, it may cost more than JYP 20,000.

You can find details on access at the bottom of the temple's website below.

https://gyokuzo.com/en/

4. Climate

The location is at an altitude of about 400m. Although the temperature is 2-3°C lower than in the plains, it is still hot as it is the hottest season of year in Japan.

Japanese summer are muggy.

There is air-conditioning in the yoga room and in the accommodation rooms.

Please bring something to adjust the temperature during shavasana.

5. What to bring

- Yoga mats (but since the floor is tatami, so you can practice yoga without them).

- Blankets, etc. (to put on when doing Nidra)

- Preparations necessary for accommodation

[Amenities at the lodge (temple)]

- Hand towels

- Bath towels

- Toothbrush

- Yukata (Japanese bathrobe)

are said to be available in the rooms, so you can use them if you want to.

There are no washing machines at the temple or in the vicinity.

Please note that there are uneven cobblestone paths and small stairs on the way to Gyokzo-in Temple, making it a little difficult to pull suitcases in some places.
(It is not impossible if you lift it up a little.)

Useful things to have

- Earplugs (if you need them for sleeping in a shared room).

- Hair dryer (as there are not enough in the bathrooms).

(Water and tea will be served.)

There are only souvenir shops in the vicinity of the temple.

Please buy and bring what you need in a larger city before you arrive.

6. Meals

Vegetarian meals will be prepared at the lodge.

The meals are completely vegetarian (no meat, fish, eggs or milk).

If there is anything you cannot eat, please inform us in advance.

7. Costs

During your stay, there is no cost to you, except for buying souvenirs and snacks.

8. Other

- The baths are large and can accommodate up to 20 people at a time.

Bathing hours will be until 10pm, after the night work is finished.

Morning baths and showers are not available.

- There is wifi access in some parts of the lodge, but not in the rooms.

Please take it as a good opportunity to get away from your daily routine, so we recommend that you stay away from your mobile phone as much as possible.

- If you would like to ask for a goma-burning prayer, you can ask the temple for one on site. (from JPY 5,000)

http://gyokuzo.com/kitou-syugyou/#time

9. Contact details 

If you need any help, please feel free to contact us.
Person in charge: Nun / Yuki
e-mail: andreiramjapan@gmail.com
phone: +81-9055658756 (Nun)

10. Daily schedule

7:30 breakfast

9-12:45 practice 

13 lunch

15-17:45 satsang and Practice

18 dinner

19:30-20:30 satsang meditation.

11. About Recording and Video Recording

Recording or video recording for personal practice is allowed.

(Posting on the web or social networking sites or sharing with non-participants is NOT permitted.)
I will also share the audio data that I will record with the participants.