A challenging Buddhist ascetic practice held on the Japan's largest lake.
I introduce a unique Buddhist ascetic practice performed at a temple situated on a cliff overlooking Lake Biwa, the country's largest lake. A ritual you'll find nowhere else in Japan. This unique ritual takes place every year on August 1st at Isakiji -temple located in Ohmi-Hachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. As a matter of fact, I saw this ascetic practice two years ago, but I just took a quick look from the side of the temple on the cliff. However, this year I fortunately won the lottery to determine who would ride on a fishing boat, so I was able to see the moment the ascetic monks jumped into the lake up close. An ascetic monk jumping from a beam 7 meters above the surface of the lake. A thick wooden beam, approximately 13 meters long, projected horizontally into Lake Biwa. This is a small temple built over a cliff called " Sao-tobi-do ". Many people have gathered there to watch the moment of jumping. The main temple and other facilities exist in the back...
