Introduction to Ichibata-Yakushi Temple
Ichibata-Yakushi was founded in 894. It is the head temple of the Ichibata-Yakushi sect and has long been said to have the power to cure eye diseases.
This temple is located on top of Mt. Ichibata, and Lake Shinji can be seen from the temple grounds. Within the spacious grounds there are many buildings, including the main hall, the Kannon hall, and the lecture hall.
Shukubo (temple stay)
There were two cottages in the grounds of Ichibata-Yakushi. Although it is on top of a mountain, there is a parking lot nearby, so we were able to go there by car.
The inside of both buildings was almost identical. Entering through the front door, there was a living room with desks and sofas. The floors, walls, and ceilings were all made of wood, giving the space a gentle, warm feel.
It had a kitchen, a bathroom, a washroom and a toilet.
There was a loft and up the stairs were beds lined up.
Evening and Morning service
Services were held in the main hall at 4:30 in the evening and 7:30 in the morning. It was about a three-minute walk from the shukubo to the main hall.
I went to the main hall 10 minutes before and was able to go inside. The monks chanted sutras and I offered incense.
Finally, I was served tea made from tea leaves picked on the temple grounds. It is said that drinking this tea will grant you the blessings of Medicine Buddha (Bhaisajyaguru).
Porridge breakfast
After the morning service, I had breakfast. The menu included porridge, miso soup, sesame tofu, simmered dishes, pickled plums, pickled radish, kumquats, and dried daikon radish strips.
I sprinkled crushed wakame seaweed on the porridge. It smelled good and made me hungry. The miso soup contained freshwater clams, a specialty of Lake Shinji, which can be seen from the temple. The kumquats were picked on the mountain where the temple is located.
All the dishes were very delicious.
Zen meditation
On the day I stayed there, someone else had booked a Zen meditation session, so I joined them. We gathered at the temple office and were guided by a monk to the lecture hall, which was located down the stone steps from the main hall.
At the entrance, we first took off our shoes and lined them up before going up to the lecture hall. The main image of the hall is Sakyamuni in the center, and on the left side is Manjusri riding a lion.
There were cushions lined up in front of them and each person sat down. It was explained that it is important to sit with your spine straight and to focus your mind.
I did zazen twice for about 15 minutes each. I could hear the sound of rain outside and it really calmed my mind.
After the Zen meditation session, we returned to the temple office and chatted with the monks and other participants over tea and sweets.
