Kyoto: Zen Meditation with Monk
5.0
6 Ratings
Kyoto

Discover hidden Zen temple meditation in Kyoto. Connect with a monk, practice Zazen, and explore serene gardens. Capture unforgettable memories.

Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Kodaiji Park - We’re taking you to the hidden temple close from Kodaiji Park.
What's Included
  • Matcha and Japanese traditional snacks
  • Zen meditation experience with a monk
Additional Information

Experience Zen meditation at a hidden temple in Kyoto. While Zen is globally renowned and recognised, there are few places in Japan where you can have the best Zen experience with English tour guide support. This temple is not open to the general public, and you can enjoy hidden atmosphere of the temple and authentic zen experience.

Enjoy a private Zen experience, fostering a connection with the monk. Meet at the temple, where you’ll learn briefly about Japanese culture and Zen.

Following that, a monk will personally lecture on the principles and techniques of Zazen (seated meditation), and you’ll have the opportunity to practice. Unify your mind, confront yourself, and detach from ego and worldly concerns. After zen experience, you will get the opportunity to enjoy watching beautiful traditional garden, which will make you forget hustle and bustle of the daily life.

Capture photographs with the monk and within the temple, creating lasting memories for a lifetime.

Location
Kodaiji Park
The tour guide is waiting in front of the toilet in the park. Around the meeting location, you can feel the vibes of old temple built in 1606, and the tour guide is guiding you to the temple where the tour is held. On the way, you learn the history of the area.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(6 Ratings)
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U9647ueannat
Jul 24, 2024
A true gem of Kyoto - Amazing that only 15 min walk from the busy streets of Kyoto you can find this calm place with a really nice garden. The experience was enhanced by both the guide and the monk being native Japanese but still spoke very good English. Even if the session was fairly short, with the excellent setup it was enough to give a good idea of what meditation can be. And the matcha tea was the best we’ve ever had!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oliviavf5989vv
Jul 23, 2024
Always Zen - A Heartfelt “Thank You” to Soma for facilitating an extraordinary journey to a hidden temple. Soma's knowledge and passion for the sacred site, enriched our experience in ways we never imagined. Under Soma's guidance, we had the privilege of meeting the head master priest, whose wisdom and presence left an indelible mark on us. Their insights into spirituality added layers of depth to our visit, turning it into a profound and enlightening encounter. Soma's attention to detail and dedication to ensuring our comfort and understanding throughout the excursion were truly commendable. He effortlessly bridged cultural gaps, making us feel welcomed and connected to the spiritual essence of the temple. I am deeply grateful to Soma and the head master priest for the opportunity to have such a unique and meaningful experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ivanmfacorro
Jul 22, 2024
One of our best experiences in Japan 👌🏻 - This experiencie was one of our best moments we had in Japan so far. It was a rainy day and it made it even more special. The monk taught us some key things about zen that will take with us back home, and Soma was the best guide! He was extremely nice and helped a lot during the whole experience. A 10/10! ❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
522tak
Jul 20, 2024
Kyoto Meditation with the monk experience - The experience was really nice and I liked it so much. The temple itself is pretty old and has beautiful zen gardens, also monk speaks English a bit so it made interaction very personal and engaging. Definitely recommend it, five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexandranbc
Jul 19, 2024
Loved this experience with Soma! - It was a lovely experience, Soma is fun, insightful and curious, really great guy, wish I had more time to spend with him. Koy-san, the buddhist priest, was very nice to answer our questions and to guide us through Zen meditation. I had already experience in sitting meditation and meeting with him reassured me that I am doing it right. :) The temple garden seems to be from another world, at least when I went it had just rained and the green moss was wow! Really recommend this experience, go with open heart and curiosity and continue to res
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kirsten
Jul 19, 2024
Fantastic experience - We joined as a family the ZaZen meditation and we had a wonderful experience in the secret temple. Our guide was super nice and courteous, perfectly organized and translated everything, so that we were able to participate very well. The priest had a great charisma and was happy to explain everything to us. At the end, the room was opened and we were in a beautiful Zen garden. It was a great and individual experience in Kyoto and a perfect start for the day! We have decided to take what we learned back to Germany and meditate for 5-10 minutes every day. We are very grateful for this fantastic experience and can recommend it 100 percent!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 9 guests
1
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September 2024
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