Sankouin’s Shojin-ryori —the only one in Japan designed for Imperial Pri

  Three distinctive features of Sankouin’s *Goma Okabe* (sesame tofu): 1. Uses raw, peeled sesame seeds (not roasted ones). 2. The grinding pestle is made from a Japanese pepper (*sansho*) tree found on the temple grounds. 3. The word "tofu" is avoided, as it is considered a taboo term. 　　　　　　Depending on the season and the day's weather, I often serve it with raw soy sauce and wasabi.                                     A booklet on goma-dofu (sesame tofu) written by Head Priest Koei Hoshino. ⚠️ Please proceed below only if you wish to know more details. For the meal itself, the information provided above should be quite sufficient. As the monk Soei Yoneda has said, part of the dining experience lies in sensing the season and the atmosphere of the setting. We hope you enjoy both the space and the time spent here. If you remain interested after your visit, please feel free to read the addition...

  At Sankouin, osake(alcohol) is considered entirely appropriate. "Is it really okay to drink alcohol with *shojin ryori* (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine)?" "I was surprised to find out alcohol is served." We sometimes receive reactions like these when we offer osake(alcohol) at Sankouin. Some guests even express disapproval. It is certainly true that at some other temples, alcohol is consumed under euphemisms like "Hannya-tou” (般若湯Wisdom hot water) or "Yakutou” (薬湯Medicinal hot water)—pretexts used to claim it is medicine rather than alcohol. The Precept against Killing—do not take the life of living beings The Precept against Stealing—do not steal The Precept against Sexual Misconduct—do not engage in improper sexual acts The Precept against Lying—do not tell lies The Precept against Intoxication—avoid becoming heedless or unrestrained due to alcohol The above constitute the Five Precepts of Buddhism; they admonish against the consumption of alcohol. 」 Howe...