Fast facts
North of Kyoto. Where Reiki was received.
Where Usui founded his school.
Tokyo. Usui memorial stone.
Hiroshima. Where Usui died.
1922
The Two Birthplaces
Mount Kurama and Tokyo: The Sacred Geography of Reiki
Reiki was not invented in a laboratory. It was received on a sacred mountain. Mount Kurama, north of Kyoto, has been a spiritual site for over a thousand years. It is sacred to both Buddhism and Shinto.
In 1922, Mikao Usui climbed Mount Kurama. He found a spot near a waterfall and began a twenty-one day fast and meditation. On the final morning, he saw a flash of light. He received Reiki.
After coming down from the mountain, Usui moved to Tokyo. He founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui's Spiritual Energy Healing Method Society). Tokyo became the cradle of Reiki, where he taught students and treated earthquake survivors.
Key Reiki Locations in Japan
The most important places in Reiki history.
- Mount Kurama: Located north of Kyoto. Elevation about 584 meters. Sacred to Buddhism and Shinto. Usui's twenty-one day retreat took place here. The exact spot near the waterfall is a pilgrimage site for some Reiki practitioners.
- Tokyo: Japan's capital. Usui moved here after his mountain retreat. He founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Tokyo. He taught students and treated earthquake survivors here. His memorial stone is at Saihoji Temple in the Suginami district.
- Saihoji Temple: Buddhist temple in Suginami, Tokyo. Home of the Usui memorial stone, erected by his students in 1927. The stone is a pilgrimage site for Reiki practitioners worldwide.
- Fukuyama, Hiroshima: Usui died here in 1926 while on a teaching trip. His exact grave location is uncertain, but the city is significant as his final location.
Reiki's Japanese Geography
A map of key Reiki locations in Japan.
Mount Kurama
North of Kyoto. Sacred mountain. Usui's twenty-one day retreat. Reiki was received here in 1922.
Tokyo
Capital of Japan. Usui founded Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai here. Taught students. Treated earthquake survivors. Saihoji Temple memorial stone.
Fukuyama
Hiroshima prefecture. Usui died here in 1926 while on a teaching trip.
Reiki's Geographic Timeline
- Usui retreats on Mount Kurama for 21 days. Receives Reiki.The spiritual birthplace of Reiki.
- Usui moves to Tokyo. Founds Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.The organizational birthplace of Reiki.
- Great Kanto Earthquake devastates Tokyo. Usui treats thousands of survivors.Reiki's practical application demonstrated on a large scale in Tokyo.
- Students erect Usui memorial stone at Saihoji Temple, Tokyo.Creates a permanent pilgrimage site.
- Usui dies in Fukuyama, Hiroshima.The end of his life journey.
The Womb of Reiki
Mount Kurama: Where Reiki Was Received
Mount Kurama is not the tallest mountain in Japan. It is not the most remote. But it has been a spiritual site for over a thousand years. It is sacred to both Buddhism and Shinto.
The mountain has a famous temple, Kurama-dera, founded in the 8th century. There are also Shinto shrines. The mountain is said to be home to the god Maoson, a deity of protection and healing.
Usui climbed the mountain in 1922. He found a spot near a waterfall. He gathered stones to make a circle. He began to fast and meditate. On the twenty-first morning, he saw a flash of light. He received Reiki.
Today, Reiki practitioners from around the world travel to Mount Kurama. They walk the path to the temple. Some meditate near the waterfall. They come to connect with the source.
The Cradle of Reiki
Tokyo: Where Reiki Was Taught
After coming down from Mount Kurama, Usui did not stay in Kyoto. He moved to Tokyo, the capital. Tokyo was the center of modern Japan in the 1920s. It was a city of opportunity and change.
Usui founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Tokyo. He began teaching students. The school was located in the Harajuku area, now a famous shopping district, then a quieter neighborhood.
In 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake devastated Tokyo and Yokohama. Usui treated thousands of survivors. This demonstrated Reiki's practical value on a massive scale. It also made Usui known in Tokyo.
After Usui's death, his students erected a memorial stone at Saihoji Temple in Suginami, Tokyo. The stone still stands today. It is the most important pilgrimage site in Reiki.
Key takeaways
- Reiki was received on Mount Kurama, north of Kyoto, in 1922.
- Usui undertook a twenty-one day fast and meditation retreat on the mountain.
- After receiving Reiki, Usui moved to Tokyo and founded his school.
- The Usui memorial stone is at Saihoji Temple in Tokyo.
- Usui died in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, in 1926.
- These locations are pilgrimage sites for Reiki practitioners worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Mount Kurama?
Yes. Mount Kurama is accessible by train from Kyoto. The temple and surrounding area are open to visitors. The exact spot where Usui meditated is not definitively marked, but you can walk the mountain path.
Where in Tokyo is the Usui memorial stone?
At Saihoji Temple (also known as Nanushimaya Saihoji) in the Suginami district. The temple is open to visitors. The stone is in the garden.
Is there a Reiki museum in Japan?
Not officially. However, some Reiki organizations in Japan have small collections of historical materials. Saihoji Temple is the main historical site.
Why did Usui choose Mount Kurama?
Mount Kurama has been a sacred site for over a thousand years. It is associated with spiritual training and healing. Usui likely chose it for its spiritual energy and seclusion.
Is there a marker at the exact spot on Mount Kurama where Usui received Reiki?
There is no official marker. Several locations are traditionally associated with his retreat. The exact spot is not definitively known.
Sources
- Frank Arjava Petter, Reiki Fire, 1997.
- Bronwen and Frans Stiene, The Reiki Sourcebook, 2003.
- Mount Kurama temple history.
- Saihoji Temple records.
