Shourin-ji, located about an 8-minute walk from Higashifushimi Station on the Keihan Main Line, offers experiences such as Zazen meditation, sutra copying, and Buddha image tracing (reservations available online). Despite the staff seeming a bit busy with a group visit, I found the explanation lacking. However, as I calmed my mind in the midst of the rain and copied the Heart Sutra, it felt like even the dark parts of me were being washed away and turned white. After finishing, I enjoyed matcha tea and traditional Japanese sweets, including a sugar-coated yokan, in the tatami room. It was quite delicious. It was my first time trying sutra copying, and I found it to be quite enjoyable. It was a good way to pass the time between the activity and the meal.

"Yaoji" offers a variety of shojin cuisine from a famous temple. Their shojin bento is known for its colorful presentation, with flowers arranged at the chozuya. Available for pick-up only on weekends with advance reservation by Thursday. The bento features a bed of ginger rice topped with spring ingredients, arranged beautifully in a traditional Japanese bento box. The taste is exceptional! The menu includes bamboo shoots, butterbur sprouts tempura, vegetable ohitashi, fried tofu, fried taro, pickled myoga ginger, and more. Enjoy with a cup of light soybean tea.