Memories of the road and a temple where monkeys holding jewels welcome you

Koshinji Temple in Hamamatsu City's Hamana Ward is located along a road where people and goods once passed, and even today it still quietly retains traces of that time.

It is not a flashy tourist destination, but the more you walk around, the more you can sense the time that has passed since it was built.

Since the Edo period, as the belief in Koshin (※) has grown, people have come to pray at this place for bountiful harvests and good health, and Koshin-ji Temple has become affectionately known by locals as "Miyaguchi's Koshin-sama."

Miyaguchi flourished as a temple town and eventually also served as a stopover point for people heading to Mount Akiha and Okuyama Hokoji Temple.

It also developed as a distribution center for lumber, tea, and cocoons, and the townscape has been shaped since ancient times along with the activities of the people.

The first thing you'll notice when you visit Koshinji Temple is the monkeys at the temple gate. In addition to the well-known three monkeys, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," there is a fourth monkey here holding a jewel.

This monkey is called "Hojuzaru" and is cherished as a being that grants wishes. It is enshrined in front of the Koshin-do Hall and welcomes visitors.

It all starts with a moment to prepare your mind

The experience begins with a storytelling session. You will learn about the history of Koshinji Temple, Koshin faith, and the meaning behind the monkeys. What to see, what to hear, what words to choose, and what thoughts to cherish in your heart as you go through life.

The teachings of the Four Monkeys gently stop us from noticing the movements of the mind that we tend to overlook in our daily lives.

From my experience that applying it helped me recover

After listening to the explanation, we moved to a separate room with a calmer atmosphere. On the table were original meditation coloring pages drawn by the head priest's wife. The pages consisted of intricate lines and patterns, and were designed to be freely composed, allowing you to start coloring from anywhere.

There are a variety of coloring pages, including those with monkey and daruma motifs. There are different levels of difficulty so that everyone, from children to seniors, can enjoy them at their own pace.

The background to this coloring book is the wife's own experience. When she fell ill and needed care, the head priest recommended that she try mandala coloring as part of her rehabilitation.

She says that the time she spent concentrating on coloring helped her to escape the anxiety and impatience of the uncertain future and bring her back to the "here and now." As her body gradually recovered and she returned to her daily life, drawing and coloring supported her emotionally. It was this realization that made her want to share this time with someone.

Beyond concentration, a quiet wish emerges

Once the coloring begins, the room naturally becomes quiet and it's time to concentrate. As you choose a color and move your hand along the flow of the lines, the noise in your head gradually fades away.

Coloring doesn't have to be neat. Even if you spill over the lines or have unexpected overlapping colors, it's still a part of the look. Just spending time concentrating on coloring will gently calm your mind.

Each time you finish painting a pattern, you feel a small sense of accomplishment, and when it's finished, you'll feel a quiet sense of satisfaction deep in your heart.

Even if the design is the same, no two finished pieces are the same. Each artist's individuality is naturally reflected in their choice of colors and painting style.

By writing your red seal on the piece and framing it, you will have a one-of-a-kind original red seal.

A sweet aftertaste and a lasting tranquility

After coloring, you will be served a cheesecake made by the head priest and a hot drink. This cheesecake, which is also sold on a regular basis, has a simple and gentle taste. It will gently seep into your body after you have concentrated.

You can exchange words or just savor the experience in silence. This space will help your relaxed mind to calm down even more.

With a wish, return to everyday life

The meditation coloring experience at Koshinji Temple is not a place to strongly pray for your wishes. Nevertheless, it is a time when, by calming and centering your mind, what is truly important to you will naturally become clear.

You may pause to listen to the teachings of the Three Wise Monkeys and quietly entrust your wishes to the Jewel Monkey. Through this series of moments, your mind will be calmed and you will be able to return to your daily life.

This is an experience I would recommend gently to anyone looking for an opportunity to face their innermost self in the midst of their hectic daily lives.

What you can experience in this tour

The experience lasts about two hours. You will begin by listening to a talk about the history of the temple and the four monkeys. This quiet time is an important opportunity to switch off from your everyday routine.

Afterward, participants move to another room to work on original meditation coloring pages drawn by the head priest's wife. All the designs are hand-drawn, and there is no single correct answer. By focusing on the colors and lines and coloring mindlessly, concentration naturally deepens, and a calm time similar to meditation unfolds.

After coloring, you can enjoy the afterglow of your finished work while enjoying a cheesecake and a hot drink made by the head priest. The piece you have completed with your own hands is an experience that leaves you with a quiet sense of accomplishment and a sense of peace of mind.

Guide introduction

Koshinji Temple Chief Priest Nakayama Kotetsu and Koyu　

Both are from Hamamatsu City. For several years now, they have been holding the "Koshinji Temple Monzen Market" on an irregular basis within the temple grounds, fostering a place where people can naturally connect with each other. They also share information about the daily life and events at the temple through various events held within the temple grounds, such as temple yoga and tarot readings. They quietly create a part of the scenery of Koshinji Temple as a place where visitors can drop in and relax.

*Your guide for this experience will be either Yoshitetsu or Yoshitomo.