Commonly, shakyo and shabutsu involve copying of the whole sutra or the whole image of the Buddha, but at Chuzenji Temple, we have prepared sheets of a sutra and an image that you can finish tracing within 15 to 20 minutes. In 16-character shakyo, you will trace a part of the Kannon Gyo sutra, written in light gray, with a brush pen. In shabutsu, you will trace the central area of the image of the Buddha, drawn in light gray, with a brush pen. In both practices, you will receive blessings by having your mind connected with the Buddha, feel relaxed both mentally and physically, and have the time to familiarize yourself with the Buddha and reflect on yourself. Time thus spent will be a priceless experience for you. After shakyo and shabutsu, you will be given a special red stamp as proof of paying respect to the temple and submitting the sutra/image. ※You can borrow a brush pen from the temple.

This branch temple of Nikkosan Rinnoji Temple was founded in 784 by Shodo， the first head priest of Nikko. The wooden statue for which it’s named—which represents Kannon， the thousand-armed goddess of mercy—is said to have been carved by Shodo himself. The temple is also home to several historically significant Buddha statues. It is also the 18th stop on the 33 Kannon Temple Bando Pilgrimage route， so many pilgrims visit to see it."

Chuzenji Temple was established by Shodo Shonin in Nikko-zan in 784. Enshrining Nikko’s oldest Buddha statue, which is six-meters tall and was carved in a standing Japanese judas tree, the temple is a prayer temple (where visitors pray to the Buddha). Juzu, or prayer beads on a string, is one of the ritual items that people use to count how many times they have read a sutra or recited Buddha’s name. According to Siddhartha Gautama, praying to the Buddha repeatedly will remove earthly desires from people and make them happy. Those who visit to pay respect to the temple can join the prayer beads craft workshop. They can choose beads of their taste, made of natural stone and/or natural wood, with a wish in their minds to create a bracelet-shaped juzu. Their juzu becomes nenju when monks offer a prayer at the gomadan (fire ritual platform), and they can take it home as a wearable lucky charm.

Sup! Sup! offers a unique standup paddle-boarding yoga experience and a memorable guided tour of the beautiful nature surrounding Nikko’s Lake Chuzenji. We have plans for both beginners and experienced guests! （Please make reservations via our website)

Located in the Okunikko area, Zen Resort Nikko is an outdoor activity-oriented commercial complex where you can enjoy dining at a restaurant and glamping. The restaurant serves beef hamburger steaks with a wonderful umami taste and texture achieved only because they are made of 100% Wagyu beef. You can also savor a dish featuring Itadakimasu, a brand of freshwater rainbow trout developed in Nikko. The dinner (reservation required) is prix fixe, so you can choose dishes of your preference for each course. Enjoy alcohol beverages and food in the slow flow of time. In addition to accommodation facilities for glamping and camping, Zen Resort Nikko offers a rich lineup of seasonal activities such as SUP for summer and snow activities in winter.