/jp/ - Otaku Culture

The history of Catholicism in Japan is really cool. There are still about 1 million Catholics in Japan, and a few monasteries.

There is a Benedictine monastery run by a Minnesotan in the Japanese Alps about 2 hours west of Tokyo. I often think about enjoying a retreat to there. They welcome all faiths, and also non-religious people who would like a taste of Catholic monastic life. They are working at building themselves into a bigger retreat and renewal centre, so it'd be great to support them if I ever got the chance.

http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2009/06/japan-minnesota-monastic-community-thrives
http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/our-work/ministry/t/
http://www.osb.or.jp/html/enindex.htm

There is also a Trappist monastery near Oita if you wanted a warmer climate, and another Trappist monastery in Hokkaido called Our Lady of the Lighthouse.

It seems like the closest to achieving Gensokyo I could be would be discerning a vocation in Japan.