I recently went on a waterfall meditation / sound healing retreat for my birthday. It was a very interesting experience for me because it was my first time doing waterfall meditation and my second time experiencing sound healing.
I saw a reel from Yamatrips Japan about waterfalls meditation at Seizan-so right right around the time I was looking for an alternative trip after my Nepal yoga retreat was canceled. I’ve been on the hunt for retreat places lately, and this felt perfect for what I needed on my birthday — a space and time for reflection and meditation. A chance to think about my purpose in life and go on a journey of self-discovery.
I arrived at Seizan-so around 3:00 PM. I had planned to arrive earlier so I could explore a bit, but the train was delayed and I missed my transfer. When I reached Mitake Station, the bus to the cable car station had just left. Since it only runs once or twice an hour, I had to wait more than 30 minutes for the next one.
Transportation:
- Yokosuka-chuo to Mitake Station (By train)
- Walk from Mitake Station to the bus station (1min) – You will see a red sign on your left side after you get off Mitake Station.
- Mitake Bus station to Cable Car Shita (10 min by bus)
- Walk uphill to the Takimoto Station (3min)
- Takimoto Station to Mitakesan Station (6min by cable car)
Aug 24, 2024- Seizan-so is a Temple Lodging/Shukubo/ where you can stay and experience waterfalls meditation/滝行/たきぎょう and sound healing while meditating/瞑想/めいそう. I chose the all inclusive plan with 2 meals for ¥15,000/night. You can also request for vegetarian meal or have a no-meal plan for people who are fasting.
Check-in time is at 14:00 and check out is 11:00 next day. You can pay by cash or paypay. Hashimoto-san and his family are running the lodge and they are so nice!
Hashimoto san is a Shinshoku /神職 /しんしょく – a priest in the Shintō religion of Japan. The main function of the shinshoku is to officiate at all shrine ceremonies on behalf of and at the request of worshippers.
He said that nowadays, some people call him a kannushi/神主 (“divine master (of ceremonies)”, originally pronounced kamunushi) , which traditionally referred only to a head priest who, through the observance of purificatory practices, had become qualified to serve as a medium for a deity. But he said the correct term should be Shinshoku-san or Onshi-san.
Day 1
15:00 – I was told I could come earlier than 15:00 to check in, but I ended up arriving right on time. I put my bag in my room right away. There was a group of seven people staying at the retreat, and due to one cancellation, I was able to join last minute.
15:15 – After checking in, Hashimoto-san explained what we would be doing that day. We were given a plastic bag containing our white robes: an inner robe with a white belt, an outer robe with its belt, and a white headband. He explained that the women’s robe is opaque, so we didn’t need to wear underwear. It felt a little strange at first, but since it reached my knees, I eventually got used to it. Personally, I found the men’s outfit more revealing. I kind of wished they had separated the men and women into two groups.
We were told to bring our own towel and drinking water. Some people forgot, so don’t make the same mistake — otherwise, you’ll have to hike back soaking wet. Then, we headed to Ayahiro falls / 綾広の滝 / あやひろのたき for our first waterfalls meditation. The hike wasn’t too bad, about 30 minutes or so. Still, I would recommend wearing comfortable hiking shoes, especially since you can either go to Ayahiro Falls or Nanayo Falls — and the Nanayo route is slightly more challenging.
The first five minutes leading to Mitake Shrine were the hardest part for me because of the concrete pavement and stairs. We approached the shrine from the back rather than through the shotengai area, and we bowed as we passed it as a sign of respect.
16:00 – We got to Ayahiro falls and saw a snake eating a frog. It’s my first time seeing a snake while hiking so I was a little shocked. But I was able to pass the snake because it was still busy with it’s snack. Nobody was sure what it was but when I googled, it looks like it was a Yamakagashi, and it’s poisonous. So just be careful and be attentive.
There was a small hut nearby where we changed into our white robes. The other ladies were super kind and showed me how to wear it properly. You have to wrap the right side first, and then the left side goes on top. Do not wear it the other way around — that’s how the Japanese traditionally dress the deceased.
We stood in a circle and performed arm movements while chanting as a way to show respect. After that, we entered the water one by one. You say “Ey!” before stepping into the waterfall, then chant “Hara edo no ookami” while standing under it. When finished, he would say “Ey,” and you reply “Ey” before stepping out. We did this three times each, for about 10 seconds per round — though it felt like the second time lasted longer than the first.
He told me to go last so I could watch everyone else first and simply copy what they were doing.
The water was cold, but not unbearable. After the waterfall meditation, we returned to the hut to change back and then walked to the lodge. We bowed again as we passed the shrine.
17:15 – We arrived back at the lodge and were told to take a bath before dinner. The hot bath felt amazing after the hike. There was no fan in the changing area, so I was glad I brought my mini fan. I tend to sweat a lot after hot baths, so having one really helped. Afterward, we all changed into our yukata.
18:30 – Dinner began, and since it was my birthday, the group surprised me by singing a birthday song. It was incredibly touching. They didn’t even know me, yet they said they felt lucky to spend my birthday with me — apparently, it’s considered good luck!
19:30 – I changed into a more comfortable clothing since we are going to be sitting and laying down while meditating. I think it was about 45minutes of meditation with sound healing using the crystal bowls.
After meditating, I felt so relaxed. I went to bed with a calm heart and a clear mind. This is when I knew, that crystal bowl sound therapy does work wonders. Now I sleep better when I play it on youtube in the background at night. I wish I can go to a weekly yoga session with sound healing because it’s really amazing.
Honestly, it was so weird for me because I felt really close to heaven while staying here. Well, I was literally closer because I was in the mountains but spiritually, I feel closer. I know it contradicts my belief as a Christian where we believe that God is always with you no matter where you are. But I really felt at peace here.
Just to clarify, I did not worship the trees, the waterfalls and other stuff here, I just paid respect.
Day 2
6:00 – We left the lodge to hike back to the waterfall for another waterfall meditation. We repeated the same ritual as the day before, but this time the force of the water was much stronger. I could definitely feel more power from it.
On our way back, Hashimoto-san did a reading for some of us, and I was truly amazed by what he said. He gave me an answer to the question that brought me there in the first place. I got goosebumps when he spoke — it felt incredibly meaningful.
7:45 – We got back from the hike and took a bath before breakfast.
8:00 – Breakfast (I ate natto for the first time in my life… and probably the last. haha!)
9:30 – Crystal bowl meditation (my second time)
10:30 – We started preparing for check-out. I said goodbye to the wonderful people who welcomed me into their group. They truly made my stay unforgettable, and I would love to see them again someday.
I’m really glad I chose to celebrate my birthday this way instead of the usual partying and drinking. My lifestyle over the past few weeks has definitely changed a lot compared to how it was before. Am I finally growing up? Maybe 🙂
But one thing I know for sure is that life is really good — and even on the days when it sucks, it’s still good. So if you’re feeling stuck like I was, please know that you’re not alone. I guess sometimes we just have to wait it out, and in time, things will get better.
Thanks for reading!
#MarieJournals