Authentic Zen Experience at Quiet Temple in Tokyo

Despite being only half an hour away from bustling Shinjuku, this temple is surrounded by an abundance of beautiful greenery. It was built in the early 8th century to enshrine Jinja-Daioh, a god of water who is said to have helped bring together the founder's parents. Thanks to its romantic heritage, today the temple is known as a “matchmaking temple” where people's love-related wishes are granted.

Looking for a retreat from a hectic daily life to find peace of mind? How about a relaxing 1.5-hour zen experience at a serene temple surrounded by lush greenery, less than an hour away from central Tokyo? In this session, you can experience Zazen sitting meditation, try out simple sutra recitation, and listen to the head priest’s preach. Also while you are there, take a tour around the main hall of the temple with more than 1000 years of history and take pictures of the age-old structures. This is a perfect opportunity to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city to see the peaceful side of Tokyo and fully appreciate the beauty of Japanese culture. Normally Zazen is practiced in the Seiza position (formal sitting position in Japan), but if you are not comfortable sitting on the heels, don't hesitate to ask for a stool.

I'm the 91st generation head priest of a Tendai Buddhist temple with more than a millennium of history. My personal mission is to help people get familiar with the simple and peaceful teachings of Buddhism. At our temple, my wife and I are offering a variety of hands-on experiences, in which you can casually try out authentic Buddhist practices and appreciate traditional Japanese culture, such as "sutra copying" and "zen meditation". I am also a licensed instructor of Omotesenke School of Tea Ceremony.

・All children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
・Please make sure to always communicate through wasabijp. In order to protect your payment, never transfer money or communicate outside of the wasabijp website.
・If you feel unwell or are under the influence of alcohol at the time of arrival, you will not be able to join our experience.
・Please make sure to arrive on time. If you arrive late, you may not be able to join us, as the end time cannot be extended to make up for late arrivals.