Not sure on exact dates yet, or if we can do this trip at all, but I am putting it up to gauge interest with a minimal $50 deposit because of the uncertainty. Anyone that puts in a deposit sooner will get a discount on the final cost of the trip. Those that put in deposit from the canceled 2021 trip will be have the deposit comped in for this one.

Cost is an estimate based on past tour costs for 8 days. but there may be a revision, once we have better idea of what conditions will be like at this time and if hotel costs will be more or less than in the past. but I will do all I can to keep this reasonable.

Some of the events below may or may not be available, but it will be similar.. and fantastic

2022 year is the 100th anniversary of date we are told usui had his experience.

2022 Reiki Pilgrimage - oct 2022 - about 8-10 days. (10 days if they hold the oct 22 fire festival, otherwise 8

For Reiki Practitioners and their loved ones, this is the trip of a lifetime.

Experience the mountain where Mikao Usui received Reiki, and get reattuned at the source. Meet Japanese Reiki Masters and Practitioners, and experience the history and beauty of Kyoto.

Travel with ReikiMaster/Author Jessica Miller, Author of Reiki’s Birthplace

Highlights of Tour:

REIKI Highlights

Reiki Re-attunements by Jessica at Kurama Mountain Power Spots
Multiple days on Kurama mountain,
Japanese Reiki Share, meeting Japanese lineage Reiki people
Instruction on using Reiki to connect to sacred places

Reiki Tour Daily Highlights REMINDER>>> This may still change!

Fri Saturday ARRIVAL

While you will leave US on Friday, you will cross international date line and thus arrive in Osaka in the late afternoon on Saturday. The MK Taxi shuttle van has a kiosk in the airport just outside of baggage claim, and will take you all the way to Kyoto and bring you directly to our hotel (a long ride, but lots to see out the window). I will meet you at the hotel, give you a welcome bag including some snacks and make sure you get checked in.

Sunday - KURAMA FRONT SIDE / GION WALKING TOUR

We will meet at breakfast, pick up hiking snacks, and take the short train ride to Kurama mountain. We will Hike the front half of the mountain, with frequent stops to explain things at the many temples and shrines, and spend time sitting in front of Kurama mountain Buddha Statue. Much of this information is in my book Reiki’s Birthplace: A site guide to Kurama Mountain, but seeing it is a whole different experience.

Evening Gion Walking Tour. Gion is Kyoto’s most traditional district where the culture of Kagai, the world of Maiko and Geiko(Kyoto Geisha) is still alive. Though many tourists come to Gion, it can be difficult to grasp the magnitude and beauty of Gion completely. Your guide will explain the history of kagai, the lives of maiko and geiko and even take you to the backstreets of Gion. Walk with a knowledgeable, licensed English-speaking guide and discover the depths of the Old Capital, Kyoto.

Mon - KYOTO BUSY TOUR DAY & JAPANESE REIKI SHARE

We will walk through Teramachi/Nishiki shopping district in the morning, and boarding the SkyHop Bus Tour. This has audio tours in English, and stops at the major sites in the city, and we can get on and off as needed, with a new bus coming every 30 minutes. We will get off and explore the the Golden Pavilion, Sanjusangendo (1001 Kwan yin Temple), and other locations based on the interests/travel speed of the group.
Tour map is here https://skyhopbus.com/kyoto/assets/routemap_en-0b96309ca518541e684d962c91d323ec7ca34e1064a3acb21e4c062d6a5f2dd4.pdf

At 6pm (starts 630) we will go to a Kyoto Reiki Share run by Hyakuten Inamoto and his students. 6:30-9 http://komyoreikido.jp/english/e_share.html

Tues WILD SIDE OF KURAMA, REATTUNEMENTS,

A more meditative day on the mountain.. We will take train to Kurama village, and cable car up to main temple, and hike over the top of the mountain to the village of Kibune below.

Possible Evening Event, TBD

Wed

Arashimaya has been a tourist destination in Kyoto since Heian times, famed for it beautiful wooden bridge, its bamboo forest.. https://www.insidekyoto.com/arashiyama-bamboo-grove
and the wild monkeys in the Arashimaya monkey park. https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/arashiyama-monkey-park

In afternoon, we will take train to Kyoto station, and those interested in bargain shopping will go to the once a month temple flea market at Toji - great place to get cheap Kimono’s. Others may go to other sites near Kyoto station, or just go back to our hotel.

Thu , Zen Zazen, Reiki 100th party

Morning Zen Lecture in English and Zazen at Shunkoin Temple https://shunkoin.com/course-zen-meditation/

We will spend the afternoon on Kurama, and be there in time for the Kurama

Fri

We will leave Kyoto to go to the nearby city of Nara, which was the capital of Japan before Kyoto (and Kyoto was capital for 1200 years.. Tokyo is a recent upstart)

We will go to Nara to see the great Buddha, which is one of the most impressive things i have ever seen. The petals of the lotus that the Buddha sits on are 6 feet tall. A charming aspect of the park which are the wild deer which come right up to you, and will bow to you in exchange for special dear cookies.

late afternoon event possible: TBD

Sat

MK Taxi will take you to airport to head home. If you are in US, you will arrive on the same day earlier than when you left!

or saturday will be the fire festival on kurama.. I will let you know when I know, then another day to just be in Japan afterwards.. then home!

SOME NITTY GRITTY DETAILS
Pay the deposit online, but i prefer if you pay the balance by cash or check. My address is Jessica Miller, 928 Northampton St, Cambria CA 93428… email me at same time so i know it is coming.. or better yet give to me your money in person at a healing night.

We will be walking 4-6 miles a day, including hiking Kurama, about 1000 feet of elevation. Have good walking shoes, (a second pair might be helpful if we get rain). Spend some time hiking hills where you live or taking stairs. If you hike now, is no big deal, if you don’t, it can be a strain.
Get a copy of my book, “Reiki’s birthplace, a Site guide to Kurama mountain” on Amazon, and read it before the trip.
Passport- If you don’t have a passport, start getting one ASAP, it takes 4-6 weeks. If you do have one, make sure you know where it is now, so not a last minute -cant find it and must replace.
You can bring other non-Reiki people with you if you want, we have balance of Reiki and tourism
All activities on the trip are optional, and are included in the cost of the trip, and not refundable. If you want to go off on your own to do some other activity, it is your responsibility to let me know in advance, if reservations were required for the experience.
A few meals are included in the trip, but most are not. Our hotel is near a major shopping street with an assortment of restaurants, fast food, and a good convenience store. We will be eating a mix of informal quick food and nice dinners. If you have particular diet requirements, bring food bars or trail mix to supplement. Sanitation/Water/etc is better than the US.
Do NOT plan to use your cell phone. Put it in airplane mode, and set it to only work with wifi.
- If you do actually use your foreign phone / SIM in Japan, it will be very, very expensive- an hour of calls to a local number plus an hour to the US, plus receiving the same would cost upwards of $400
- Call your local carrier before you go if phone use is important to see what they say.
- It is possible to rent a phone, but is easier to do without. research it before you go to Japan
Money - Have $300-500 for food and souvenirs turned into yen. You can get more money in Japan, but US credit cards are not universally accepted, and most ATMs don’t work for US cards. While the exact exchange rate goes up and down, for practical purposes, 1 yen is a penny. So 3000 yen is $30. The 100 yen store is one of my favorite places for cheap souvenirs. Everyday food is about what it costs in the US. However high end food is astronomical. Never eat anywhere that you can’t see the prices. Same on drinks.
Language - I DON’T speak Japanese. Most Japanese are not comfortable with English. This tour is an exercise in how to get around when you can’t read, write or talk. It is an amazing experience, but takes a bit of extra time to figure things out. A Japanese language book may be useful with pictures, but most of time just being observant, smiling, pointing and knowing how things work will get you through. We will also have some of my bilingual friends with us for part of the tour. Carry the hotel brochure with you at all times so if you are ever lost, a taxi can get you home.
Kyoto is a very safe city. If you leave the group, your biggest problem is getting lost and finding someone to help you find your way again. I will make sure you have a map.
We will get around using a combination of subway, walking, trains and taxis. One of goals of trips is that if you ever came back on your own, you would be able to get around without me.
Medicines, shoes, clothing. Bring whatever you even MIGHT need with you, including Aspirin, Digestive, Sleep aid, allergy medication (I use benadryl to help me with allergies and help me get to sleep). No special shots/vaccinations are needed to go to Japan. Most clothing/shoes are sized for Japanese smaller bodies.

I will want you to be vaccinated for Covid-19

Weather- Expect daytime highs in the low 60s, nights in the low 50s. Dress in layers, bring a rain coat. Bring a day pack to carry extra clothing and lunch for hiking days. We will be there at the beginning of fall foliage season.
Airfare/hotel shuttle is not included in the trip, people come from different cities or even parts of world.
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* Fly to Osaka or Itami airports, NOT TOKYO  (It would be like flying to LA to go to event in San Francisco)
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- MX Taxi Shuttle will pick you at the airport. You pay when you get in the shuttle (or at a stopping point on the journey). its about a 2.5 hour ride to Kyoto from the Okaka. and costs about $40 https://www.mktaxi-japan.com/kyotoshuttle. Arrange this once you get your airline ticket.

Fall 2022 Pilgrimage to Kurama and Kyoto - currently on hold..