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View all Kyoto tours【Kyoto】Zen Experience in a Temple with Matcha and Sweets by Local Operator
2-hour tour in Kyoto, taking in Jushō-in Temple. Run by Denei Japan tour, booked direct rather than through a reseller.
Highlights
- Jushō-in Temple
- Runs 2 hours
- Guide
- Photographer
- Temple entry
- Introduction to Zen by the chief monk
【Kyoto】Zen Experience in a Temple with Matcha and Sweets by Local Operator: Key Facts
| Price | From $150.5 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
This is a 2-hour experience from Kyoto, built around Jushō-in Temple. It is run by Denei Japan tour, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.
Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years until 1868 and has 17 UNESCO-listed sites among some 2,000 temples and shrines. The big three are Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and best in morning light; Kiyomizu-dera, the wooden stage on the eastern hills with the Higashiyama lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka below it; and Fushimi Inari's gates. Nijo Castle has the nightingale floors that squeak against intruders, and Ryoan-ji the rock garden. Temples open around 8:00 or 9:00 and close at 17:00, and the city bus is slow; a day with a driver or a guide who orders the stops against the crowds is the difference between four sights and seven.
The price covers Guide, Photographer, Temple entry, Introduction to Zen by the chief monk and Two zazen meditation sessions. It does not cover Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation to the meeting point, Tips and Souvenirs and personal purchases, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.
Denei Japan tour sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Denei Japan tour before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Starting location
北総門
Jushō-in Temple
Class (2 hours)
2 drop-off locations
北総門, 18 Taniguchisonomachi
Detailed Itinerary
Starting location: 北総門
Jushō-in Temple: Class (2 hours)
2 drop-off locations: 北総門, 18 Taniguchisonomachi
Includes
- Guide
- Photographer
- Temple entry
- Introduction to Zen by the chief monk
- Two zazen meditation sessions
- Welcome Japanese tea
- Matcha and seasonal Kyoto sweets
- Optional keisaku experience
- Photo data after the experience
Excludes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to the meeting point
- Tips
- Souvenirs and personal purchases
Important information
Meeting point
Denei Japan tour sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
It was an amazing experience to so this Meditation and learn more about the Zen practice. The monk was very polite and I had a good time!
A once in a lifetime activity for me and my wife! Such a cool event. To be in an ancient temple, overlooking a beautiful garden, being instructed on how to engage in Zen meditation by a certified monk was wonderful! We now have a skill we can take home with us and use forever. All of the staff were super friendly, kind and welcoming. The Matcha tea ceremony and sweets were another great experience. Instructions were spoken in English; no language barrier here. I highly recommend booking this activity for your visit to Kyoto!
We had the most peaceful and enriching experience at this meditation class. The atmosphere was so calm and welcoming, and it truly felt like a reset for the soul. The handmade sweets were a lovely touch: simple, thoughtful, and delicious. Thank you so much to Ursula and the rest of the team for creating such a warm and nurturing space. We left feeling lighter and deeply grateful. Lisa and Alessandro
It was a wonderful experience. The whole Team was super nice. We got there late and there made Sure we made it there. Ursula was our Guide and the whole staff was so friendly and nice and the Chief monk answered all of our difficult questions. The Team and Sweets were delecious and the Meditation was great. Thanks again for everything.
It was definitely the best experience we could have! We discover more about Kyoto and japanese culture than in any other experience! We left with full hearts!
This was such a wonderful experience! Every aspect of it was so well thought out and we learned so much about Zen practice. The space is incredibly beautiful and serene, and Ursula was a fantastic guide and translator for the monk and the rest of the team guiding us through the experience. Joondae took excellent photographs and was super welcoming as well!
Great experience with very nice workers. Experience was very zen and beautiful scenary
Just amazing - everything I was hoping for. It was a highlight of my trip
Very good introduction to Zazen meditation with helpful context provided by guide and the resident monks. Very private experience away from the hustle and bustle crowds in Kyoto at a small temple usually not open to tourists. I plan to implement the process into my daily life! Very relaxing anti-anxiety method
One of the most peaceful experiences we had in Kyoto. The zazen meditation session helped us slow down and truly feel the spirit of the temple. The monks were very kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere was incredibly calming. Even as beginners, we felt comfortable and deeply connected to the experience. Highly recommended if you want to experience a more authentic and mindful side of Japan.
This was the most professional, well organised and well executed tours we've ever been on. The team are so professional, the chief monk, the translator, the tea masters, the organiser, even the photographer was excellent. The location is amazing and extremely important in zen buddhist history. We learned so much about the zen buddhist technique and history/culture. Thank you to the entire team. Would definitely recommend this tour.
This was the zen experience I was looking for, the setting was so tranquil, and I throughly enjoyed our interaction with the monk. Our guide who was the translator had such a beautiful energy and truly complemented the experience. This was Kyoto away from the crowds. Everything about this experience felt authentic not touristy. I wish I had more opportunities to do this in other parts of Japan.