Enjoy a special vegetarian lunch using seasonal ingredients at the sacred place where Kukai, a great figure in the world of Japanese Buddhism, was born (Zentsuji City, Kagawa)

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[A customized experiential museum for the entire town]
Zentsuji City in 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 natural surroundings of his hometown, Shikoku. Even now, more than 1,200 years after his time of activity, many worshippers who admire Kukai visit from all over the world and follow the pilgrimage route he left behind.
At the five temples in Zentsuji City associated with Kukai, we offer experiential content that allows you to confront yourself and hone your five senses, with themes of Mandala Temple (touch), Deshakka Temple (sight), Koyama Temple (hearing), Zentsuji (taste), and Kanakura Temple (smell).
In the city, where the culture of "Osentai," where local residents show hospitality to pilgrims, is deeply rooted, we offer experiences such as enjoying the region's traditional crafts and local cuisine.
Zentsuji City is a place where nature and faith are close at hand and you can get a glimpse of simple, everyday life; the entire city is truly an experiential museum!
Why not experience authentic Japan while experiencing the culture that has been cherished and nurtured by people since ancient times?


About Zentsuji Zentsuji is the head temple of the Zentsuji school of Shingon Buddhism, with a history of 1200 years since its founding. It is a historic temple built on the site of the mansion where the founder, Kukai, was born, and the name of the temple comes from Kukai's father, "Yoshimichi". It has a vast grounds of 45,000 m2 in total, and is divided into the temple complex on the east side and the Gotanjoin temple on the west side. The temple complex includes the five-story pagoda, which is loved as a symbol of the town, and the Kondo hall, which enshrines the Buddha Yakushi Nyorai, who saves people from the suffering of this world, such as illness, as its principal image. Gotanjoin temple has a Miedo hall and a lodging house 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 lodging house "Iroha Kaikan", you can enjoy vegetarian cuisine made only from plant-based ingredients based on Buddhist teachings, and a secret hot spring called "Daishi no Yu" that is only available to guests staying overnight.

Learning from the "Five Contemplations"
In accordance with Buddhist teachings, you can enjoy special vegetarian cuisine in a special room at the temple lodging, which is made without meat or fish that involve killing, or the five spicy ingredients such as chives and garlic, which have the potential to hinder training by increasing stamina. The colorful dishes, which use local and seasonal ingredients, are full of ingenuity to allow you to enjoy food even during your training, and to show gratitude to the ingredients and their producers.
Please take your time to savor the freshly prepared vegetarian cuisine and enjoy a pleasant conversation with the monks.

During the guided tour of the temple grounds, the monks will share with you valuable stories that you can only hear on a special tour, such as the history of the temple, the proper way to worship, anecdotes about Kukai that can be found throughout the temple, and the highlights of the buildings.