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white clothing; staff
and straw hats are
also a common sight.
Shikoku islanders have
always helped them along
their way with gifts of food, bottles of
water, and sometimes even overnight
lodging. These gifts, known as
o-settai,
give locals the chance to earn merit
and participate in this time-honored
tradition. Pilgrims leave everything
behind on their journeys to learn and
enjoy the joy of solitude; and if they
are lucky, even to find themselves
at the end. The 1,200km long trail is
traditionally done on foot, taking at
least six weeks — but these days
many visitors short on time do the
trip in stages, parts of the trail by train,
bus or car.
ShojinRyori —
Japanese Temple
Cuisine
Temple stays are a unique chance to
mingle with fellow travelers and monks
in a convivial atmosphere. You won’t
be able to order a cheeseburger at 2am
from room service, but then you didn’t
come to Japan for the fast food. What
you will get is the chance to sample
Japanese life at its most traditional.
Part of this experience involves
shojin
ryori
or Japanese vegetarian temple
cuisine, which typically comes with the
cost of the room for both dinner and
breakfast.
Shojin ryori
is an expression
of Zen Buddhism — even the act of
cooking is a form of meditation. One
of the basic precepts of Buddhism is
it’s against the killing of animals, so
you won’t find any meat, fish or even
eggs or milk. The cuisine is made up of
grains, vegetables, soybeans, tofu
and seaweed that are artfully prepared
and arranged.
Though it may sound like Japanese
temple food is quite limited, it is in fact
tasty and complex — embracing the
essence of every ingredient. A reflection
of Japanese cuisine itself,
shojin ryori
is based on harmony and simplicity.
T H E S O U L O F J A P A N
Seasonal ingredients are carefully
combined to create a balanced blend of
nutrition, tastes and colors exquisitely
presented despite the simple contents.
This style of cooking has a long
history in Japan, being introduced
with the arrival of Buddhism; but ever
since then, the cuisine has evolved
and become ever more elaborate
and refined.
From top: A stroll can help clear your
head; get into character with some
geta
footwear; Japanese temple cuisine is
known to be very healthy