To get to my Buddhist feast, shojin ryori, I have to enter the Buddhist temple, Tenryu-ji (fee of ¥500).
It has a nicely manicured garden.
As I enter, there is no one in sight. I ring a bell for the server to greet me. She advises me to take off my shoes and sits me in a tatami room with other guests. I overhear the 2 travellers beside me ask the server if there is a sequence to eating this meal. She replies, “no rules”.
Phew!
My meal comes.
The meal looks small and I expected that, but it surprisingly fills me up. Plus there are a few more dishes.
This meal (the basic set) cost ¥3000, which is pricey for a lunch, but hey, I’m here to try something different.
Oiishi.
I’m drooling over the pumpkin.. it looks so delicious.
But .. I dun really like pumpkin.. yet again, it’s from Japan, which makes it so awseome.
Fruits and Veggies from Japan gets imported to HK.. and omg are they expensive!!!!!
Is this a spiritual venue for lunch or a religious temple?
Do you feel any difference dining in at this venue vs.. let’s say.. Richmond International Buddhist (Temple)?
Yes, the pumpkin looks so tasty, and it is! Yes, this restaurant is in the temple vicinity, so yes, spiritual.
It’s very different from Richmond Buddhist Temple, as it’s very quiet here. There are fewer people (maybe because it’s paid entrance and an expensive-ish meal) and it’s spacious for diners.
Fruits and vegetables in Japan are in general very expensive. Can’t wait to be back.