Japan

In 2024, I was on a speaking tour of Japan and stayed a full month so I could explore Japanese culture and go a-roaming around the country. 

One of the most magical adventures was the week I spent in a shukubo (temple lodging), Komadori Sanso, affiliated with the Mushashi Mitake Shrine, high on the sacred mountain of Mitakasan. 

As on a quest, I journeyed out of Tokyo via the Ome Line (hour and a half), a bus and a cable car up the mountain, then a half-hour hike through forest to reach my lodging. 

Komadori Sanso, glorious location, delightful family hosts and delicious food.

The meals provided were washoku, traditional Japanese cooking. Oishi deshita!

My room with tatami mats had a balcony overlooking the forest, a futon bed and a tea table. It also provided a yukata, house robe, for me to wear. (And excellent wifi!)

I went to the Mitake Shrine daily. When visiting a Shinto shrine, you remain outside. After ablutions at the water station, you throw coins into the donation box, bow, clap hands twice, bow again and whisper prayers or wishes. (I leave the bell ringing to Japanese people.)

Steps and steps lead up to the shrine, one with a trapped demon. Musashi Mitake is dedicated, like the holy mountain itself, to Okami, the wolf god. This was a surprise for me, for my last name (as opposed to my pseudonym) is Whelan and Faoláin in Irish means “little wolf” as faol is the older Irish word for “wolf”.

The chief shrine is fronted by two great wolf statues and is surrounded by a complex of smaller shrines to wolves and dogs. There are also trails from the shrine for hiking up and around the mountain, including one that leads to a waterfall shrine.  

Japan

In 2024, I was on a speaking tour of Japan and stayed a full month so I could explore Japanese culture and go a-roaming around the country. 

One of the most magical adventures was the week I spent in a shukubo (temple lodging), Komadori Sanso, affiliated with the Mushashi Mitake Shrine, high on the sacred mountain of Mitakasan. 

As on a quest, I journeyed out of Tokyo via the Ome Line (hour and a half), a bus and a cable car up the mountain, then a half-hour hike through forest to reach my lodging. 

Komadori Sanso, glorious location, delightful family hosts and delicious food.

The meals provided were washoku, traditional Japanese cooking. Oishi deshita!

My room with tatami mats had a balcony overlooking the forest, a futon bed and a tea table. It also provided a yukata, house robe, for me to wear. (And excellent wifi!)

I went to the Mitake Shrine daily. When visiting a Shinto shrine, you remain outside. After ablutions at the water station, you throw coins into the donation box, bow, clap hands twice, bow again and whisper prayers or wishes. (I leave the bell ringing to Japanese people.)

Steps and steps lead up to the shrine, one with a trapped demon. Musashi Mitake is dedicated, like the holy mountain itself, to Okami, the wolf god. This was a surprise for me, for my last name (as opposed to my pseudonym) is Whelan and Faoláin in Irish means “little wolf” as faol is the older Irish word for “wolf”.

The chief shrine is fronted by two great wolf statues and is surrounded by a complex of smaller shrines to wolves and dogs. There are also trails from the shrine for hiking up and around the mountain, including one that leads to a waterfall shrine.