Impressions

Our thoughts and impressions about Horakuan

Q U I E T: Hearing and Listening at HORAKUAN

First things first: anyone who thinks that a temple on the edge of a forest will be a quiet place to practice might be as familiar as I am with living on the edge of a forest, and that is not very familiar at all.  And second: Horakuan is, indeed, a place of stillness and quiet in the midst of cacophonies of sound.  This is a fine place to begin.

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One month at Horakuan

When we arrived at Horakuan, we found a beautiful temple in a secluded and beautiful forest on the hills of Suzaka and just minutes away from other residences. Horakuan combines for me the best of different worlds; nature, beauty, inspiration (temple), isolation and silence, access to culture (museums), relaxation (hot springs), small town and hence safety.  

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Two and a Half Weeks at Horakuan

Many surprises awaited us at Horakuan! The remoteness combined with being a short drive from the town of Suzaka. The utter stillness, peace and beauty. And most of all, Dorothee’s generous offering of this as our place to stay.

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Three Weeks at Horakuan

I stayed at Horakuan for nearly 3 weeks and it was one of the best experiences of my lifetime. Far away from crowded and big cities, Suzaka will offer you a great insight about Japanese daily life and culture.

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One week at Horakuan

What you experience at Horakuan will, of course, depend on the time of the year that you stay. I went in April  – Spring with all of the unpredictable weather that the season can bring. So we experienced bright sunny days, cool days and even a blanket of snow!

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Two weeks at Horakuan

We spent 12 days at Horakuan in October and we truly enjoyed our time there. Horakuan is a magical place near the Japanese Alps, surrounded by beautiful tall trees that turn to all shades of orange, yellow and red during autumn.

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