Tajimi Monastery
Other than the parishes, the Society has Religious Communities in Akita, Karuizawa (Nagano Prefecture), Tajimi, and Nagasaki. In Nagoya there are the two large communities in the Divine Word Seminary, and the SVD House (for members teaching in the schools). The house in Karuizawa is used both for vacation and as a retreat center.
The monastery in Tajimi is of special significance. It was founded as the Provincial Center in 1930 and is regarded as the SVD "Motherhouse" in Japan. It is also central because the Society's cemetery is located there! The complex includes the monastery with its distinctive architecture, the local parish church, a retreat center, and a center for study groups. It is the only monastery in Japan with a vineyard, and during the war years it offered an additional service to the Church in Japan through the production of Mass wine. "Tajimi Monastery" features on the local tourist map and attracts a steady stream of visitors, but the wooded riverside grounds retain a quiet atmosphere suitable for prayer and reflection.