Report on the Implementation of Wish Vacation@Koyasan 2026: 'Souvenir for the Heart'

The Japan-based nonprofit organization 'Dreams for Children with Serious Illnesses and Their Families' (Chuo Ward, Tokyo; President: Riki Osumi) successfully conducted the 'Wish Vacation@Koyasan 2026' from Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Koyasan.

The Wish Vacation in Koyasan has been held multiple times in the past. This sacred site, where prayers have accumulated for over 1,200 years since its founding, remains a place we wish to return to again and again.

For families living with serious illnesses, daily life constantly involves confronting the concept of 'life.' That is precisely why we aim to offer them time in Koyasan to quietly reflect on themselves and their families in a serene environment.

Walking along paths surrounded by towering cedar trees, listening to monks' teachings, and focusing deeply on copying sutras—through these quiet experiences, we believe families will discover something meaningful they can carry back into their everyday lives.

The Okawa family (2 members) and the Yano family (3 members) spent these three days together.

The Journey Begins Among the Cedars

Under clear skies, both families arrived in Koyasan full of energy.

Immediately upon arrival, they began a guided tour of Kongobuji Temple, the head temple of the Koyasan Shingon Sect, led by Mr. Amegai from the temple's Social Human Rights Division. The families were amazed as they touched the tree rings of the ancient Koya cedars and learned about their history and scale. They were also told that the temple's name originates from the Buddhist scripture 'Kongobu Ryoaku Issai Yoga Yugikyo,' which means 'the supreme and most sacred peak that must be eternally protected.'

The architectural ingenuity of designing corridors to resemble rivers for fire prevention, and the temple's name change during the Meiji era—these layered stories embedded in a single building deeply captivated the families.

The evening banquet at the temple lodging 'Shofuku-in' featured shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), a first for both families. A special birthday cake was served to celebrate Ku's birthday, and everyone joined in the celebration. Even before the formal activities began, the families were already chatting and bonding over cake, signaling that meaningful connections had already begun to form.

After dinner, all participants silently focused on copying the Heart Sutra in a single file line for a full hour. The only sound was the gentle movement of brushes under soft lighting.

As they shared their completed sutra copies, Mr. Yano remarked, 'The way it turned out seems to reflect one's heart.' Ms. Okawa noted that she was particularly struck by how often the character 'kuu' (emptiness) appeared in the text.

By the end of the day, both tranquility and warmth had coexisted beautifully.

'The Buddha's Heart Exists in Everyone’s Heart'

On the second morning, the day began with a refreshing atmosphere and morning prayers. As families offered prayers to the main Buddha statue, the head priest shared, 'Koyasan is a place filled with spiritual energy, cultivated by countless people's prayers over centuries. We hope you can take home a souvenir for your heart.'

On this day, six students from the Koyasan High School Interact Club joined the event. Under the guidance of their advisor, Mr. Kei Yu Sakakibara, the students had previously discussed how best to welcome the families and greeted them with handmade fans.

Takatoshi Takaoka, a third-year religious studies student, participated wearing traditional monk's robes, allowing Ku and Arata to touch the robes and shaved heads—an experience that brought smiles to their faces.

At the 'Sanko no Matsu' pine tree, they listened to a teaching about Kukai's founding of Koyasan and the idea that 'compassion is the feeling of cherishing someone, not something taught by others, but something everyone is born with.' At the Kondo (Golden Hall), the explanation that the Eight Offering Bodhisattvas each express compassion through their unique abilities resonated deeply with both families and students.

Ku, who previously had little interest in Buddhist statues, said, 'Learning that each has a meaning made it fascinating.' During the precept ceremony, they learned that 'kai' (precepts) represent the functioning of conscience, and that the 'Buddha's heart'—feeling good about supporting others—naturally exists within everyone.

At Daishi Church, both families and high school students gathered around a large table for a communal lunch.

Kohiro Kusunoki, the club president and son of a local temple priest, said, 'It was a wonderful opportunity to hear new stories about Kongobuji, a place I've known all my life,' and shared an animated conversation with Ms. Okawa about career paths. Under the guidance of student council president and band leader Momoe Yamanishi, everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' to Ku. Ms. Okawa joked, 'We've been celebrating for days, so maybe we can skip it on the actual day (laugh),' bringing laughter to the group.

During the prayer bead-making session, they were told, 'Each bead represents a Buddha; wearing them helps us feel the Buddha's presence in our hearts daily.' With this in mind, each participant carefully selected their favorite colors and crafted their beads with serious expressions.

After completion, they sat in a circle to pass around a large prayer bead necklace. As one person moved it, the chain would bend and pull, transmitting the motion directly to the next person's hands—a physical sensation of interconnectedness.

At the same time, each wore their own small personal bracelet on their left wrist—each containing their own personal wishes. While part of a larger circle, their individual hopes remained clearly present.

Mr. Takahashi's words—'The large mala is like society. It's important to value each individual's mala while staying connected to the whole'—left a tangible impression through this shared experience.

At the Reihokan Museum, Director Terutatsu Omori, also a curator, gave a detailed and gentle tour of numerous national treasures and important cultural properties.

Another Temple Lodging, Another Story

That night, they stayed at Muryoko-in, a subtemple of Kongobuji with historical ties to Oda Nobunaga and Uesugi Kenshin. In a space adorned with fusuma sliding doors and hanging scrolls of cultural heritage significance, temple staff shared stories about the artifacts, sparking lively conversations between the families.

During dinner in a room facing the garden, the early-season chirping of cicadas drifted in through the open windows. As the journey reached its midpoint, the evening deepened quietly yet profoundly.

On the final morning, they attended a prayer service lasting over an hour, including a goma fire ritual. The head priest taught, 'Life has both good and bad moments, but Kobo Daishi is always with us,' introducing the Shikoku pilgrimage concept of 'Dogyo Ninin' (two traveling as one).

They walked the magnificent cedar-lined path to Okunoin, paying respects to Jizo statues along the way.

In the uniquely refreshing atmosphere that everyone remarked felt different, they recalled the story shared by Shofuku-in's head priest—how daimyo lords from across Japan were buried here, and cedars brought from their home regions have, for centuries, drawn the hearts of people nationwide to this sacred ground.

At the lantern hall and mausoleum, they collectively chanted 'Namu Daishi Henjo Kongo' seven times, guided by Mr. Takahashi's words: 'The Buddha's heart exists in everyone’s heart. Never forget this.' For a while, only the sound of wind rustling through the cedar treetops filled the air.

From Here, It Begins

The closing ceremony was held at Shodoku-den. On behalf of the organization, Ito expressed gratitude for 'spending three days together without any health issues' and shared the message: 'This is not the end, but the beginning. Let us stay connected and continue supporting each other.'

Ms. Okawa said, 'I still haven’t seen the version of myself