Special Exhibition at Nara Natonal Musium
The Nara National Museum is currently presenting The World Heritage Sites of Yoshino and Omine: Prayers and Beauty Dedicated to the Mountain Deity, an unmissable showcase for those interested in Japanese spirituality and Shugendo.
Did you know that Japan has a syncretic tradition called Shugendo, which blends Buddhism, Shinto, and other beliefs into a unique mountain ascetic practice?
For more background, please see this article: https://travelaction.co.jp/shugendo-japans-ancient-worship-of-nature/
In this special exhibition, visitors have the rare privilege of venerating Buddhist statues from Ominesan-ji, the temple at the top of Mount Omine—Shugendo’s sacred heart.
Their presence here is extraordinary precisely because Mount Omine remains off-limits to women.
I first encountered Shugendo after returning to my hometown Nara a decade ago, and I was deeply moved by its spirit and worldview. Its teachings preserve a way of living and a mindset that many Japanese risk forgetting. Access to Mount Omine is restricted, I had assumed I would never behold the statues of Ominesan-ji temple in this lifetime. Yet, this exhibition made that encounter possible, creating a memory I will cherish forever.
The exhibition also features artifacts and testaments of faith left behind by past Emperors and statesmen who were devout followers of Shugendo. I believe that the origins of Japan’s values—of order, harmony, and etiquette—lie within these traditions. For those who wish to touch the very essence of Japan, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting during the exhibition period.
Our agency offers exclusive tours that allow you to experience the path of Shugendo firsthand, accompanied by practicing Yamabushi (mountain ascetics).
we provide a dedicated alternative route distinct from Mount Omine (an experience I have personally undertaken)
While these are curated tours, the content remains true to the authentic spirit of ascetic discipline. If you seek to challenge yourself through these rigorous practices and touch the true essence of Japan, we invite you to contact us for further details.
Nara National Museum
📍Address: 50 Noborioji-cho, Nara 630-8213
📍dates: First Rotation Already finised
Second Rotation: Tuesday, May 12th to Sunday, June 7th
📍Closed: Mondays
📍Hours: 9:30 AM.to 5:00 PM
（Last entry is thirty minutes before closing.）
📍Admission: 2,000JPY
URL：Special Exhibition
The World Heritage Sites of Yoshino and Ōmine: Prayers and Beauty Dedicated to the Mountain Deity
