[Hyogo] Zenbo Seiei opens in the forest of Awaji Island
Zenbo Seinei is a Zen meditation retreat facility that opened in April 2022 and appears to be floating in the forest of Awaji Island, the island of the creation myth.
Awaji Island belongs to Hyogo Prefecture, but it's actually more convenient to get there via Tokushima Airport. It's fun to drive on the local roads while making detours in a rental car, or you can get there in about an hour from Tokushima Airport by taking the expressway that runs across Awaji Island.
Zenbo Seikei is a building that is in harmony with nature, which is a characteristic of Ban's designs. It is not a building that stands tall enough to overlook the mountains, but is designed so that it does not extend beyond the ridges of the surrounding mountains, and so it blends in with the forest, creating a striking appearance.
After checking in, you will be treated to a cup of mellow-flavored Sannen Bancha tea, made from leaves and stems that have been aged for over three years. When you take a breather, you will notice that even though this space is inside a building, it is filled with the scent of wood. Zenbo Seikei is a wooden building made from domestic cedar. The refreshing scent of wood can be felt throughout the building.
Be sure to take a look at the table as well. The legs of the table are made from paper tubes. Ban is known worldwide as an architect who uses paper tubes, which are available anywhere in the world, to build disaster housing for disaster victims and shelters for refugees.
The ceiling of the building is also made of paper tubes of a different thickness than the tables. Paper tubes are a symbolic architectural material of Shigeru Ban's work, so it's fun to see how they are used.
There is also an open lounge with a collection of books about Shigeru Ban's architecture, which you should definitely check out during your Zen experience.
Staying at a temple lodging rather than a hotel
Zenbo Seishin is a new facility, so one might be tempted to call it a "hotel," but you will not be staying in a hotel; you will be staying in a "shukubo" (temple lodging), where each private room is named after a Zen word.
There are 18 lodgings lined up on both sides of the corridor, and each room is named after a phrase such as "Every day is a good day," "Impermanence of all things," "Form is emptiness," or "Contentment." Which room you end up in is a surprise on the day. Thinking about the meaning of the phrase you've been given may lead to some realizations when you return to your daily life.
The moment you see the small but cozy space with no unnecessary things and the tatami bed, the phrase "half a tatami mat when you wake up, one tatami mat when you sleep" may come to mind. A space surrounded by nature with no unnecessary things is perfect for spending time facing yourself.
By the way, the shukubo can be used not only for lodging but also as individual rest rooms for day trips.
Zen experience and Zen cuisine
The soothing sound of the singing bowls resonates, and the Zen experience begins. In an open space with a 360-degree view of the forests of Awaji Island, you can enjoy "air Zen" as if you are floating in the forest.
Zen may have a stoic image, but the Zen experience here is an original program that combines elements of yoga and relaxation with Zen. Special chairs are provided, so even those who are not good at sitting upright or cross-legged can concentrate without stress.
Immerse yourself in a mindful experience while feeling the warm sunlight, the sound of rain hitting the trees, the birds chirping, and the wind blowing through the forest.
After your Zen experience, try Zenbo cuisine. You can enjoy tofu, Awaji Island vegetables, and sometimes wild vegetables picked by the head chef. The cuisine expresses an amazingly rich flavor without using any oil, animal products, or sugar. After freeing your mind with the Zen experience, treat your body to healthy, gentle cuisine that does not contain any unnecessary ingredients.
Become familiar with traditional Japanese culture
There is also time set aside for you to freely enjoy tea ceremony and calligraphy, and you can experience them wherever you like.
For example, calligraphy class. Facing the calligraphy in front of you, character by character, carefully, is like facing yourself. As you continue to write, your heart will be filled.
By the way, the Zenbo Seikei logo and calligraphy that can be seen throughout the building were supervised by calligrapher Sisyu.
Why not try your hand at a tea ceremony on the 100m long wooden deck? You can spend time facing yourself and Mother Nature while admiring the gradations of green created by the trees. While learning the spirit of hospitality, you can make yourself a cup of tea in a tea bowl that reflects the season.
In a space that is in harmony with nature, you will feel like you are returning to nature and blending in with it. Please come and experience this experience created by Mr. Ban's architecture and hospitality.
*The content of the program will vary depending on the plan you apply for.
Zenbou Seinei
| address | ： | 2594-5, Kusumoto, Banaaka, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 090-7801-4063 |
| web | ： | https://www.zenbo-seinei.com/ |
On the next page, we will introduce accommodations across the country where you can experience Shigeru Ban's architecture.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
