[Kagawa, Zentsuji] Enjoy the sacred place where Kukai, a great figure in the world of Japanese Buddhism, was born

[A city-wide customized experience museum] Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture, is the birthplace of Kobo Daishi Kukai, a great figure in the world of Japanese Buddhism known to all Japanese people. Born 1,250 years ago, Kukai trained and attained enlightenment in the magnificent nature of his hometown, Shikoku. Even now, more than 1,200 years after his active days, many worshippers who admire Kukai visit from all over the world to follow the pilgrimage route he left behind. At the five temples associated with Kukai in Zentsuji City, we offer experience content that allows you to face yourself and hone your five senses with the themes of Mandala Temple - touch, Deshakka Temple - sight, Kozan Temple - hearing, Zentsuji - taste, and Kanakura Temple - smell. In the city center, where the culture of "Osentai" (hospitality) is deeply rooted, where local residents entertain pilgrims, we offer experiences such as enjoying local traditional crafts and local cuisine. Zentsuji City, where nature and faith are close at hand and where you can get a glimpse of unadorned, everyday life, is truly an experiential museum! Experience authentic Japan while experiencing the culture that people have cherished since ancient times. About Zentsuji Zentsuji is the head temple of the Zentsuji school of Shingon Buddhism, with a history of 1,200 years since its founding. It is a historic temple built on the site of the mansion where the founder, Kukai, was born, and the temple's name comes from Kukai's father, Yoshimichi. It has a vast grounds of 45,000 m2 in total, and is divided into the eastern temple complex and the western Gotanjoin temple. The temple complex includes the five-story pagoda, which is loved as the symbol of the city, and the main hall that enshrines the Buddha Yakushi Nyorai, who saves people from the suffering of this world, such as illness, as the principal image. Gotanjoin temple has a Miedo hall and a temple lodge where a statue of Meshun Daishi, which is said to have been drawn by Kukai and left behind, is enshrined as a secret Buddha. At the Iroha Kaikan lodgings, you can enjoy vegetarian cuisine made only from plant-based ingredients based on Buddhist teachings, as well as the secret hot spring "Daishi no Yu" that is only accessible to guests staying at the lodgings. In accordance with the Buddhist teachings learned in the "Five Contemplations," you can enjoy special vegetarian cuisine in a special room at the lodgings, which is made without meat or fish, which involve killing, or the five spicy ingredients such as chives and garlic, which may hinder your training by increasing your stamina. The colorful dishes, which use local specialties and seasonal ingredients, are full of ingenuity to allow you to enjoy food even during your training and to be grateful to the ingredients and producers. Take your time to savor the freshly made vegetarian cuisine and enjoy a pleasant conversation with the monks. During the guided tour of the temple grounds, you can hear valuable stories from the monks, such as the history of the temple, how to worship, anecdotes about Kukai that remain everywhere, and the highlights of the temple. ~Experience Schedule~10:00 Meeting 10:00-11:00 Temple grounds tour 11:00-13:00 Lunch (special vegetarian cuisine, conversation with monks) 13:00 Disbandment

During the tour of the temple grounds, the monks will carefully explain the anecdotes about Kukai that can be found throughout the temple, the highlights of the temple, the proper way to worship, etc. You will also have the chance to take a special look at the inside of the five-story pagoda, which is not open to the public.