My first visit to Saihoji Temple (the burial place of Mikao Usui) in Tokyo was, I’m sure, like that of most other Reiki pilgrims… i.e., an experience that I will cherish forever.

It was about 5 years ago and I had just finished a Reiki Master Seminar with Hiroshi Doi (link to the right ->) so I was still tingling with that wonderful and excited Reiki buzz. I had a hand scrawled set of directions given to me by Arjava (Petter) who was still living up in Sapporo at the time, containing his best recollections about how to get there. I was hoping Doi Sensei might accompany me (he knew the way) but he had a flight to catch and just wished me good luck in finding it on my own. Needless to say, I managed to get myself quite lost. I hadn’t really allocated near enough time for such nonsense as I had to catch a bullet train back to Osaka, and time was of the essence. Saihoji Temple, although in Tokyo City, is in somewhat of a rural area so there was no help to be found.

At last I managed to stumble upon the temple grounds (so to speak) and then the fun part began… actually finding the illusive tomb amid an ocean of Japanese names, the writing of which was pure hieroglyphics to me (as were the street signs guiding me there). I hadn’t really thought it would be that much of a problem… I had imagined the immense memorial stone (a translation of which can be found here) I’d seen pictures of (like the Mona Lisa, it turned out to be much smaller than I imagined) and of course, since I was a hot shot Reiki Master, I was confident that the Reiki energy would pull me unaided to the correct location… right!!! Lost again!!!

Anyway, I did eventually manage to find it and had enough time to take a few pictures, pay my respects, and borrow a broom from a nearby grave so that I could give it a quick sweep before dashing off… suitcase in hand… to Shinjuku Station to catch my train (which I did… thank you for asking.) 🙂

To be honest, I really didn’t feel anything special at all about the energies of the place… it was just another graveyard, except of course for the special feeling of having finally made the pilgrimage and being in a place of such honor. My second time there, a few years later I thought I had a sense of something… but it wasn’t the Reiki energy I was used to. I can sense Dr. Usui’s energy much more strongly at Mt. Kurama… but that’s a story for another day.

For further explanation or discussion, your thoughts are most welcome and highly encouraged, please feel free to comment below!!!