Core Kyoto

Ohara: A Mountain Village Echoing with Buddhist Chants

Some 1,000 years ago, monks from warring Mt. Hiei and nobles from the capital retreated from the world in rustic Ohara, northeast of Kyoto. The monks perfected the practice of shomyo, a melodic singing of Buddhist sutras, and in its heyday the village had as many as 50 practice halls. Ohara also was a sanctuary for nuns, and is known for the distinctively dressed local women called Oharame, who sold firewood in Kyoto. Discover the nature and history of Ohara through the deep faith at its heart.