[Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture] A feast of tranquility and brewing - Experience the pinnacle of Japanese sake culture and special vegetarian cuisine at Hongenji Temple

This plan will feature a special vegetarian menu using local ingredients, which will be enjoyed at Hongenji Temple, the Mori family temple. The plan also includes a chance to savor Japanese food culture, learning about the artisanal techniques and culture at Tago Honke Brewery in Tsuyama City, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site known as "Traditional Japanese Sake Brewing," while enjoying sake tasting.

Enjoy a special Buddhist vegetarian meal at Hongenji Temple, the family temple of the Mori clan, feudal lords of Tsuyama. This cuisine can be described as "spiritual training" enjoyed with all five senses, and is carefully prepared using seasonal vegetables and the bounty of the mountains, without the use of animal ingredients. Each dish is imbued with Buddhist teachings and the idea of coexistence with nature, and is presented in beautiful tableware. Enjoy a moment to harmonize your mind and body in the tranquil temple space. Along with the appearance of Hongenji Temple, which dates back to the Warring States period, you can enjoy a spiritually rich dining experience that cannot be experienced in everyday life.

Boasting over 300 years of history dating back to the mid-Edo period, Tago Honke Brewery still brews sake using traditional methods passed down to this day. This tour includes a tour of the historic brewery, where you'll be introduced to the brewing water, sake rice, and koji used in sake brewing, and experience the artisanal techniques and spirit of sake brewing. After the tour, you can enjoy a selection of fine sake that reflects the local Tsuyama climate, accompanied by a direct explanation from the brewer. This is a luxurious and intellectual experience that allows you to experience the profound depth of sake with all five senses.

Built in 1607 (Keicho 12), this is the family temple of the Mori clan, lords of Tsuyama Domain. The highly decorative mausoleum and front gate were built in 1639 (Kan'ei 16), and are valuable examples of mausoleum architecture from the early Edo period. Behind the mausoleum is the large stupa tomb of Mori Tadamasa and others, and together with the stone-paved approach and stone lanterns, it maintains the dignity of a family temple for the Tsuyama domain lords and their family.