Monastic Life

For two days and nights, we are staying in a working monastery in Koyasan . We dress, eat, and sleep like the monks, and we participate in the morning prayers at 7am.

Sekishion monastery is just one of 20 in the neighbourhood. How you choose one if you want to be a monk is a mystery.

Life here is certainly not the same as we know from European nuns (if the Sound of Music is accurate) or as portrayed in movies like Kill Bill. It's reasonably relaxed.

Non-believers are just as welcome as believers, and the head monk does reception for guests. Beer or Saki can be bought with meals, and there are even machines for beer. It gets better. One monk insists the children should all sleep together. I'm fine with that. Brief moments of peace and reflection 😔. Food is vegetarian, not very inspiring, but after eating fish non-stop for 2 weeks it's a welcome break.

Yes, you should attend morning prayers at 7am, but that's a pleasant experience that wakes you up for breakfast . In fact, prayers end with an announcement that breakfast is ready.

You can wear the clothes of a monastery worker, though not that of a monk, but it's not obligatory. See the chic fashion photos of our team.

The highlight of this town of monasteries has to be the walk through the woods to the mausoleum of the monk who started things off here. It's doubles as the main graveyard. A 2km walk of beauty mixed with creepy.Read more