Mount Kurama Reiki: What I Learned at the Birthplace of Reiki

On our honeymoon in Japan, my husband and I made a pilgrimage that had quietly lived in my heart since the day I began practicing Reiki. We hiked from Mount Kurama to Kibune, the sacred mountain where Mikao Usui is traditionally said to have rediscovered Reiki more than a century ago.

We hike almost every week, so I expected another beautiful walk in nature. It turned out to be something else entirely.

The mountain felt alive

From the first steps on the trail, something was different. The air felt fuller. The trees felt almost sentient. Every leaf and stone seemed to carry a quiet aliveness that I couldn't explain and couldn't ignore. It felt as though the Earth itself was humming, and the energy wasn't subtle. It pulsed beneath my feet, much like when I visited Stonehenge two months earlier.

I've spent years channeling Reiki as a Reiki Master Teacher. But on Mount Kurama I wasn't just practicing Reiki. I was standing at the source of its modern lineage.

A prayer ceremony at Kurama-dera Temple

Halfway along the trail, we reached Kurama-dera Temple and found ourselves joining a Buddhist prayer ceremony. The chanting echoed through the halls, ancient symbols surrounded us, and time seemed to slow.

I wasn't trying to have a spiritual experience. I was simply present, and perhaps that's why something opened.

My body felt as though it had expanded. My channel felt clearer, and Reiki moved through me with a depth I hadn't felt before. New ways of working with the energy began to arrive, not through thinking but through knowing, almost like downloads.

Symptoms versus root patterns

Sitting there, one insight became very clear. Many approaches to healing, coaching and therapy focus on managing symptoms. In my experience, Reiki works at the level of the energetic pattern underneath them.

Take burnout. Someone changes jobs, takes a holiday, builds a better morning routine, and feels better for a while. But if the deeper pattern is the belief that their worth comes from over-giving or constantly proving themselves, the burnout returns in a new form.

When that pattern begins to soften, the outer symptoms start to change naturally. The body relaxes, decisions become clearer, and boundaries feel easier. Life reorganises itself around a healthier frequency.

The question shifts from "How do we fix this problem?" to "What created this in the first place?"

My purpose, clear on the mountain

As I kept walking, another realisation arrived simply: my purpose is to make Reiki a natural part of how we approach health, wellbeing, leadership, purpose and personal growth, and to help people experience what becomes possible when they stop living from old wounds and start living from their true energetic blueprint.

Reiki has done that for me. It helped me release patterns I didn't know I was carrying. It led me to my soulmate. It gave me the courage to move countries and travel to places that felt aligned. It supported my healing around long-standing health conditions, and helped me build a life and business that reflect who I am. Somehow, it even led me back to its birthplace.

Space for what your soul is calling in

When we clear the subconscious patterns and emotional weight that no longer belong to us, we don't just feel lighter. We create space: for opportunities we couldn't receive before, for relationships that match who we're becoming, and for intuition to grow louder than fear.

Sometimes that looks like a chance meeting with the love of your life, or an ordinary conversation with a friend that opens the door to your dream career.

Manifestation isn't about forcing the universe to deliver what the mind wants. It's about becoming available for what your soul has been calling you toward all along.

Looking back, I don't think Mount Kurama changed me. I think it reminded me of who I already was, and it deepened my commitment to share this work with as many people as possible.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mount Kurama important in Reiki?
Mount Kurama is the mountain where Mikao Usui is traditionally said to have had the experience that led to the modern system of Reiki, so many practitioners visit it as a pilgrimage.

Can you hike from Mount Kurama to Kibune?
Yes. It's a popular trail that passes Kurama-dera Temple along the way, and it's often done as a day hike.

What is the difference between Reiki and managing symptoms?
In my experience, Reiki works with the energetic patterns beneath the symptoms, so shifts tend to ripple through the body, relationships and decisions. It's a complementary practice and not a substitute for medical care.

If you're ready to release what's no longer yours and step into a life that feels aligned, I'd love to work with you.