Shakyo (Sutra Copying) at Shourinji Temple

As I have been studying Japanese and also love Kanji I wanted to try this,experience. It was a very peaceful and relaxing experience, concentrating on the Shakyo to carefully copy it, while being in the beautiful environ...ment of Shourinji temple. The view from the room is a beautiful garden. The tea and sweets at the end were really nice too and I felt so good afterwards. The lady who helped me was very friendly and helpful. The only negative was a lady and her young daughter who sat directly behind me after they finished theirs and whispered and giggled for about 10 minutes. Apart from that it was excellent and I would do it again.

It was a rather awkward experience sadly. I speak basic Japanese、slowly learning but the communication was terrible. Had the experience warned of this it wouldn't have been a problem as I'd have been better prepared. It ...says they speak some English. The woman who was organising me spoke zero English and when I apologised in Japanese and explained I understood little Japanese (in Japanese) it made no difference. She'd keep talking to me and I had no idea what was going on. She was lovely but I felt really uncomfortable.

After spending the time writing the sutra I didn't even get to keep it. She just took it and placed it under an incense stand with a bunch of others. There was no information on this or what they even do with it. I would have liked to take it away as a momento or have some sort of info on what happens with it next!

This experience is a lovely idea but you need to better inform the person taking part. This experience information certainly needs updating.

I did enjoy matcha and wagashi whilst sitting looking out a beautiful garden but that was the only part that was as it says in the description. No-one was around to check I was doing things right or wrong、i was simply placed in a room and left to it. Would not recommend at all、sorry.