[Otonami/Wabunka’s first trekking plan] A one-day retreat to experience “prayer” and “nature” in the sacred mountain of the four seasons
J-CAT Press release: July 4, 2025 [Otonami / Wabunka’s first trekking plan] A one-day retreat to experience “prayer” and “nature” at a sacred mountain in every season ～Starting a one-day tour to experience nature and religious culture at Mt. Mitake, one of the most sacred mountains in the Kanto region～
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-7df639e37721d28d7ecd09c88688bae0-780×520.jpg “Otonami”, a reservation site for extraordinary experiences for adults run by J-CAT Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ryu Iikura), and “Wabunka”, which delivers the charm of Japan to the world as an experience for inbound tourists, will launch a new one-day retreat plan set at Mt. Mitake in Ome City, Tokyo. This plan was made possible through collaboration with Tokyo Yamagata DMC (Akiruno City, Tokyo, CEO: Masaaki Miyairi). This trekking-style experience condenses the elements of nature, faith, and local culture, and will be rolled out exclusively for both the Otonami and Wabunka brands for the first time.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-f153e1e279dd45899a50cabf41999525-1920×1080.jpg ■From overtourism to a journey with culture As tourism to Japan continues to expand again, issues of “overtourism” such as crowded tourist spots and superficial consumption of local culture are attracting attention. In response to this trend, Wabunka values ”experiences that allow you to touch the essence of local culture while being closely involved in its activities.” In this plan at Mt. Mitake, you can experience the culture of the Oshi (master priests) who have supported faith together with Musashi Mitake Shrine, the life and food of the temple lodgings that have been passed down for generations, and a moment of savoring food in tableware made from local bamboo, all of which are scenes of wisdom and prayer that have continued in harmony with nature. It is not a time to “visit” a tourist spot, but a time to step into the activities that have been passed down in the local area and face them calmly. Otonami offers a “luxurious retreat from everyday life,” while Wabunka offers a “journey to experience the essence of Japanese culture.” Each offers an experience that is in tune with the land from their own
perspective.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-939b41320360d1fcbd19a148e51bbee8-780×520.jpg ■ Set on Mt. Mitake, where faith and nature coexist About an hour and a half from Tokyo, Mt. Mitake, at an altitude of 929m, is a sacred place of mountain worship and Shugendo, where it is said that “gods reside in the mountain.” Musashi Mitake Shrine, said to have been founded in 91 BC, has a view of the city center from the main shrine, and is also known as the “shrine in the sky.” This plan allows you to experience a day of spirituality and tranquility that you cannot find in the city through visiting the shrine, having lunch at a lodging house, and hiking in the moss-covered valley “Rock Garden.” Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-48f11f043c116613faf407ca80ec0abe-780×520.jpg At the rest area halfway up the course, enjoy mulberry leaf tea and sweets. ■Special courses designed to be enjoyed from the perspectives of Otonami and Wabunka This experience is developed from the perspectives of both Otonami and Wabunka brands to meet the different needs of both domestic and overseas customers. For adults who want to spend some quiet time away from their daily lives, Otonami offers a one-day plan that includes a formal visit to the temple, lunch at a temple lodge, and a hike through the rock garden. By coming into contact with nature and faith, we offer a retreat experience that will help you realign your mind and body. Meanwhile, Wabunka offers two options for foreign travelers with a deep interest in Japanese culture. You can choose from the “Culture Course,” which focuses on a formal visit by a Shinto priest to experience the culture of prayer, or the “Shugendo Course,” which includes full-scale mountain trekking to the inner sanctuary. Either course is designed to allow you to deeply experience the spirituality that lives on Mt. Mitake. On all courses, guides from Tokyo Mountain DMC will accompany you and carefully support you in learning while weaving in the background of nature, history and culture. ■Enjoy food as a culture at the only lodging in Japan where the culture of onshi is still alive For lunch, we went to Mt. Mitake’s Oshi village, one of the few in Japan where Oshi lodgings are still in operation. Oshi are priests who guide worshippers, offer prayers, and provide lodging, and there are still about 30 lodgings in Mt. Mitake that support faith and life. Mt. Mitake is said to be the only place in Japan where such a “village where Oshi live and run lodgings” still exists. Each lodging serves local cuisine made with home-grown vegetables and wild plants, and the dishes vary depending on the season and the characteristics of each lodging. The specialty “sashimi konnyaku” is sometimes served, and the texture and flavor vary from lodging to lodging. Another unique attraction of this experience is that through the food, you can learn about the background of the faith and lifestyle that has been passed down in each lodging house.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-072981c85900c6b117de7b59fe24cdee-780×520.jpg *The lodgings for lunch vary depending on the date of the event. ■ Aiming for an experience of “prayer and dialogue” that goes beyond tourism This plan is not just about tourism consumption, but aims to provide a memorable experience through quiet dialogue with nature, culture, and people. A day at Mt. Mitake, which has long been a place of worship for people as a mountain that harbors gods, where you can experience the culture of prayer, the words of the priests, and the air of the mossy valley will be a “time to face yourself” for each visitor. Otonami offers a quiet retreat from the everyday, while Wabunka offers a journey to experience the essence of Japanese culture. In particular, the seasons from new greenery to autumn leaves are the times when nature and the heart resonate most deeply. Please come and experience this special journey where your senses will open up in the silence.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-ce149570fda86c63a017746d769c78af-780×520.jpg ■Otonami plan details One-day retreat to revitalize your mind and body at Mt. Mitake, one of the most sacred mountains in the Kanto region -Formal worship and hiking at the shrine in the sky-
https://otonami.jp/experiences/mt-tokyo/ ■Wabunka plan details A Day Trip From Tokyo to Sacred Mt. Mitake to Explore Nature and Spiritual Culture https://wabunka-lux.jp/experiences/en_mt-tokyo/ ■Comments from the Tokyo Yamagata DMC staff Hello! This is Tokyo Yamagata DMC. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and head to Mt. Mitake, where you can feel the energy of nature and faith in just an hour and a half. Refresh your mind and body by hiking through rock gardens with your guide, visiting historic shrines, and enjoying delicious local cuisine at a local temple lodging. Tokyo Mountainside DMC guides will share secrets and stories of the area and lead you to a deep experience. Enjoy a special day out that will help you reset your mind and soul! ■About Tokyo Yama side DMC Tokyo Yamagawa DMC is based in Akiruno, Tokyo, and develops experiential tourism that utilizes the natural and cultural resources of the Tokyo area. With themes of local faith, history, and nature, the company caters to a wide range of people, from nature studies for parents and children to adventure travel for wealthy inbound tourists. It is an advanced DMC (Destination Management Company) that aims to create “memorable experiences” that go beyond tourism and realize sustainable regional revitalization by creating a system that combines education, tourism, and technology.
■About Otonami
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-74e1b44927eb4ffa1b2d409d4d8f84db-1802×272.png Otonami is a reservation site that offers extraordinary experiences for adults. We deliver the truly valuable charm of Japan as a high-end experience. In a special place, you can spend quality time while feeling a higher level of “adult refinement”. Currently, there are about 500 exciting experience plans, mainly in the Kanto and Kansai regions, and plans for new areas and genres are being added all the time. In addition to “Otonami Salon,” which offers special plans and exclusive benefits to members, Otonami also operates “Otonami Lounge Tokyo,” a next-generation lifestyle lounge that is Otonami’s first brick-and-mortar store. https://otonami.jp/ ■About Wabunka Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/52864/56/52864-56-5e70a6f959b4d57373fd3964a27667f1-1840×324.png “Wabunka” is a service that provides extraordinary experiences to wealthy inbound tourists, mainly from Europe, the United States, and Australia. By carefully selecting authentic Japanese cultural experiences in extraordinary spaces such as historic Japanese temples, shrines, and long-established workshops, and seamlessly combining them with accommodation and transportation, we design one-of-a-kind trips. We maintain a customer satisfaction rate of 9.5/10, and deliver moving experiences to tourists visiting Japan from all over the world. https://wabunka-lux.jp/ ■J-CAT Co., Ltd. Location: 16th floor, Sumitomo Fudosan Shibakoen Tower, 2-11-1 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo Representative: CEO Ryu Iikura Business: High-end tourism experience reservation service “Otonami / Planning, development and operation of “Wabunka”, Planning and operation of customized events for
corporations and organizations, Local resource utilization consulting and project contracting for government and corporations, URL: https://j-cat.co.jp/ ■Inquiries ▼Media Inquiries pr-info@j-cat.co.jp ▼Inquiries from businesses wishing to offer experiences at
Otonami/Wabunka https://lp.otonami.jp/b2b ▼Inquiries from corporations and companies considering collaboration
https://lp.otonami.jp/corporate/inquiry ▼Inquiries from hotel staff (special form) https://forms.gle/NX8vwxJMaWKgWgqm9 *This email has been sent automatically, so please do not reply.
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