What is morning worship?
At Shogo-in, we hold "morning worship" every morning starting at 6:00 AM.
Morning worship involves chanting sutras and praying before the deities.
In the serene atmosphere of the main hall of Shogo-in Monzeki,
as you listen to the chanting in the pure morning light,
you can feel your mind being refreshed and purified.
Enjoy this precious experience that allows you to touch history,
unique to this place.
Flow of the Morning
Worship
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05:50
Gather in the lobby and move to the Great Buddha Hall.
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06:00
Start of the worship (Great Buddha Hall).
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06:15
Move to the Shinden (寝殿) and perform the worship while striking the drum and wooden fish.
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06:30
Proceed to the main hall.
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06:40
End of the worship.
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06:45
Viewing the fusuma paintings in the Shinden and brief viewing.
-
07:00
Return to the lobby for a visit to the one-night palace within Goten-so.
-
07:15
Morning worship experience concluded.
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07:30
Breakfast.
Highlights of the Morning Worship.
Shinden(left)
The Shinden is the main hall of the Monzeki temple where the prince resides. While it is strongly influenced by the Shoin-zukuri style, it retains elements of the Shinden-zukuri architecture, giving it a palace-like appearance. It was used for about three years as the official residence of Emperor Kōkaku after the Kyoto Imperial Palace was burned down in 1788 (the eighth year of the Tenmei era). It has also been used as a filming location for movies such as "Ooku" and "Sekigahara."
Main Hall(right)
The main hall, rebuilt in 1968, retains an appearance almost identical to that of the Edo period. Inside the hall, important cultural properties, including the principal deity statue of Fudo Myo-o, are enshrined. Major ceremonies are conducted in the Shinden, while the main hall also serves as a dojo for additional training practices.
Brief Viewing of Shogo-in
Fusuma paintings
This is a worship image representing the deities of Kumano, a sacred site of Shugendo, and is from the late Kamakura period.
In this illustration, a large lotus flower is placed at the center, depicting the main deities of Kumano in the form of various Buddhist figures from the Esoteric Buddhist Mandala of the Womb Realm.
While several images of the same format are known, this particular piece is valuable as it is a rare example alongside those from kozan-ji in Kyoto.
After the morning worship, there will be a brief viewing of Shogo-in Monzeki.
The climax of the plan is the visit
to the historic building located
in the courtyard of Goten-so.
The morning worship experience combines the worship
at Shogo-in Monzeki with a visit to the historic buildings within Goten-so.
Shogo-in was once referred to as "Kinrin" (錦林), meaning "beautiful forest,"
due to its stunning surroundings resembling a beautiful woven textile.
Because it is a palace set within this beautiful forest,
it is also known as "Mori Goten" (森御殿), or "Forest Palace."
The gardens of Shogo-in Goten-so still preserve the beauty of Kinrin.
After completing the morning worship and purifying your heart,
please enjoy a visit to the gardens of Goten-so,
followed by a carefully prepared breakfast by our chef.
The tea room favored by Emperor Kōkaku
This tea room, which was a favorite of Emperor Kōkaku, was presented by Matsudaira, the lord of Kameyama Castle, during the temporary imperial residence in the eighth year of the Tenmei era. You can enjoy tea in a charming space while overlooking the garden scenery.
This venue is available for tea ceremonies and training camps for tea ceremony clubs.
The One-Night Built Study Hall
This One-Night Built Study Hall was used as a private study by Emperor Kōkaku, who designated Shogo-in as a temporary imperial residence. It is called "One-Night Built" because it was constructed hurriedly using various techniques to be ready in time for the Emperor's visit.
Experience Overview
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Time
Scheduled for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes starting from 5:50 AM on the morning of your stay -
Cost
Free -
Location
Shogo-in -
How to Participate
Please inform us of your desire to join the "Morning Worship Experience" at the time of your accommodation reservation. Eligibility: Participation is limited to guests staying at Shogo-in Goten-so.Please note that guests without prior reservations cannot participate on the day of the event. -
Inquiries
For inquiries, please contact us by phone at (075-771-4151) or use the contact form on this website.
After the morning worship plan concludes,
enjoy a leisurely breakfast with a calm mind.
All participants will receive a special seal from Shogo-in as a gift.
About Registration
To reserve the Morning Worship Experience,
please inform us of your desire to participate by stating "Morning Worship Experience desired"
at the time of your accommodation reservation.
*Participation is limited to guests staying at Shogo-in Goten-so.
*Guests without prior reservations cannot participate on the day of the event.