Shōganji Zen Retreat

Experience authentic Zen temple life in rural Japan

Gallery

A look at daily life at Shōganji: morning meditation, cooking and eating together, work in the garden and forest, the changing seasons, and the people who make the retreat what it is. Click any photo to see it larger.

Meditation and temple life

Two guests meditating in the main hall in morning light
Two guests meditating in the main hall in morning light
Guests meditating in the main hall
Guests meditating in the main hall
Guests sitting in zazen meditation in the main hall
Guests sitting in zazen meditation in the main hall
A gathering of Zen monks in purple robes
A gathering of Zen monks in purple robes
Rinzai Zen monk Jiho Kongo practising calligraphy
Rinzai Zen monk Jiho Kongo practising calligraphy
Calligraphy: “Action is also Zen, sitting is also Zen”
Calligraphy: “Action is also Zen, sitting is also Zen”
Monk Jiho Kongo in robes beside a moss-covered stone Buddha at Shōganji
Monk Jiho Kongo in robes beside a moss-covered stone Buddha at Shōganji
Hands resting in the zazen meditation mudra
Hands resting in the zazen meditation mudra
Candlelight at the altar
Candlelight at the altar
Red and white tassel hanging beside a bamboo blind
Red and white tassel hanging beside a bamboo blind

Cooking and eating together

Guests sharing dinner around the kitchen table
Guests sharing dinner around the kitchen table
Jiho cooking in the temple kitchen
Jiho cooking in the temple kitchen
Guests at the dinner table
Guests at the dinner table
Making mugwort mochi together
Making mugwort mochi together
Guests preparing food together at the table
Guests preparing food together at the table
Kneading udon dough with bare feet, the traditional way
Kneading udon dough with bare feet, the traditional way
Preparing a fresh octopus in the kitchen
Preparing a fresh octopus in the kitchen
Guests sharing a meal around the table at Shōganji Zen Retreat
Guests sharing a meal around the table at Shōganji Zen Retreat
Jiho’s mother preparing food in the kitchen
Jiho’s mother preparing food in the kitchen
Pounding mugwort and rice in a stone mortar to make green mochi
Pounding mugwort and rice in a stone mortar to make green mochi
Making rice cakes by hand in the temple kitchen
Making rice cakes by hand in the temple kitchen
Preparing fresh squid in the temple kitchen
Preparing fresh squid in the temple kitchen
Winter hot pot with cabbage, tofu and vegetables
Winter hot pot with cabbage, tofu and vegetables
A home-cooked meal of grilled fish, rice and fresh vegetables
A home-cooked meal of grilled fish, rice and fresh vegetables

Samu: work in the garden and forest

Harvesting bamboo shoots from the forest behind the temple
Harvesting bamboo shoots from the forest behind the temple
Samu in the bamboo forest
Samu in the bamboo forest
Peeling freshly harvested bamboo shoots
Peeling freshly harvested bamboo shoots
Freshly dug bamboo shoots in a bucket beside pink azaleas
Freshly dug bamboo shoots in a bucket beside pink azaleas
A stick insect on a gardening glove during morning samu
A stick insect on a gardening glove during morning samu
The temple vegetable garden
The temple vegetable garden
Fresh bamboo shoots on the kitchen table beside a kettle
Fresh bamboo shoots on the kitchen table beside a kettle
Jiho’s umeboshi (pickled plums) drying in the sun
Jiho’s umeboshi (pickled plums) drying in the sun
Flooded rice fields in the countryside near the retreat
Flooded rice fields in the countryside near the retreat

The seasons and the surroundings

Mossy stone steps through the forest
Mossy stone steps through the forest
An old wooden temple hall in the forest
An old wooden temple hall in the forest
Cherry trees in full bloom
Cherry trees in full bloom
A cherry tree in full bloom
A cherry tree in full bloom
Cherry blossoms beside a temple building
Cherry blossoms beside a temple building
Autumn colour along the temple path
Autumn colour along the temple path
Walking past the rice fields on a misty morning
Walking past the rice fields on a misty morning
Rice fields near the temple
Rice fields near the temple
The coastline near the temple
The coastline near the temple
Carp streamers for Children's Day on the temple grounds
Carp streamers for Children’s Day on the temple grounds
Stone jizo statue wearing a knitted cap in the temple garden
Stone jizo statue wearing a knitted cap in the temple garden
Rock-lined outdoor hot spring with milky blue water
Rock-lined outdoor hot spring with milky blue water
Outdoor onsen with a bamboo fence and a view over the hills
Outdoor onsen with a bamboo fence and a view over the hills
Outdoor hot spring pool with blue water in Yufuin
Outdoor hot spring pool with blue water in Yufuin
A stone jizo statue beside a temple building
A stone jizo statue beside a temple building

Friends, family and temple cats

Jiho’s mother was an important fixture at the retreat for many years and an important part of the local community in Saganoseki. She will be remembered fondly by hundreds of retreat guests who were fortunate enough to meet her. She passed away in 2016 at the age of 98.

Jiho Kongo with a group of retreat guests outside the temple
Jiho Kongo with a group of retreat guests outside the temple
A cherry blossom picnic with friends
A cherry blossom picnic with friends
Guests and friends with a red parasol
Guests and friends with a red parasol
Arranging irises and spring flowers together
Arranging irises and spring flowers together
Grilling turban shells over charcoal
Grilling turban shells over charcoal
Under the cherry blossoms on a spring day
Under the cherry blossoms on a spring day
Jiho’s mother with her photo album
Jiho’s mother with her photo album
Jiho’s mother sharing her photo album
Jiho’s mother sharing her photo album
Looking through old family photographs
Looking through old family photographs
Jiho’s mother in the garden
Jiho’s mother in the garden
One of the temple cats on the wooden floor
One of the temple cats on the wooden floor
A temple cat asleep on a rattan chair
A temple cat asleep on a rattan chair

From guests’ sketchbooks

Drawings and watercolours made by guests during their stay, including two by Stéphanie Mitrano.

The temple bell tower, drawing by Stéphanie Mitrano
The temple bell tower, drawing by Stéphanie Mitrano
Wheelbarrow and ginkgo nuts, drawing by Stéphanie Mitrano
Wheelbarrow and ginkgo nuts, drawing by Stéphanie Mitrano
A guest’s watercolour sketch of the temple grounds
A guest’s watercolour sketch of the temple grounds
A guest’s ink sketch from a retreat journal
A guest’s ink sketch from a retreat journal

More photos, and news from the temple, on our Facebook page.