Zazen & Matcha + Private Nursery School Tour (with English guide)

Try zen meditation and experience local Japanese culture at a lesser-known, local Kinosaki temple!

Through this activity, experience seated zen meditation in a local temple while gazing outside at the tranquil rock garden. Afterwards, with the help of your guide, you can chat with the Buddhist priest while sipping on matcha and eating Japanese sweets. Then take a step into modern Japan right next door by visiting a Japanese child daycare. You'll see cheerful children are having fun playing and learning.
Take a glimpse into both traditional and contemporary Japanese life and culture through this tour. The tour will help clear your mind and warm your heart.



Gokurakuji is in a hidden corner of town, making for a tranquil area to practice meditation and chat freely with the Buddhist priest. Not many visit this temple, so you'll likely have the area all to yourself when you visit. The chief Buddhist priest is a friendly man who will instruct you on the proper way to sit, breathe and meditate, as well as chat with you about Buddhism. You may participate in meditation in your own clothes or in samue, which are monk's working clothes. Samue in multiple colors are available for you to wear.
Gokurakuji Temple is a special place where you can experience both traditional and modern Japan.

DETAILS
- REGISTRATION START
- 2020/07/22
- REGISTRATION ENDS
- 2021/12/31
- RESERVATION DEADLINE
- 7 days before activity
- ACTIVITY OPTIONS
- Morning Plan (9:15-12:00/13:00)
- Afternoon Plan (13:00-15:45)
- SCHEDULE
(Some times may differ) - Morning Plan
9:15 - Meet local English guide at JR Kinosaki Onsen Station
10:00 - Arrive at Gokurakuji Temple
10:10 - Zazen Meditation & Buddhist sermon *you can wear samue (monk's working clothes) if you'd like
10:50 - Chat with the chief priest over matcha (green tea) and Japanese sweets
11:30 - Visit the daycare, learn about its history and education policies, meet children
Optional lunch with children
12:15 - End of activity (if you have lunch), receive a special souvenir
Afternoon Plan
13:00 - Meet local English guide at JR Kinosaki Onsen Station
13:45 - Arrive at Gokurakuji Temple
13:55 - Zazen Meditation & Buddhist sermon *you can wear samue (monk's working clothes) if you'd like
14:35 - Chat with the chief priest over matcha (green tea) and Japanese sweets
15:15 - Visit the daycare, learn about its history and education policies, meet children
15:45 - End of activity, receive a special souvenir
- ACCOMPANYING GUIDE
(INCLUDED OR NOT) - Included
- MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE
- 2
- MEETING PLACE
- Kinosaki Onsen Station, 283 Yushima, Kinosaki-cho, Toyooka-shi, Hyogo 669-6101
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- The Buddhist sermon is easy to understand and its contents are pleasant.
Taking photos of the children in the daycare is prohibited.
- PRICES
(Per person unless otherwise noted) Number of People Participating in Total Price per Adult Price per Child (5-12 years old) 1 person N/A N/A 2 people 8,500 yen 1,980 yen 3 people 8,500 yen 1,980 yen 4 people 8,500 yen 1,980 yen 5 people 8,500 yen 1,980 yen 6 people 8,500 yen 1,980 yen
- INCLUDED IN THE PRICING
- Zen meditation activity, matcha & traditional Japanese sweets, Japanese daycare visit, local English guide, special souvenir
- CANCELLATION FEES
Day of Cancellation Cancellation Fee (% of activity price) The day of 100% The day before 50% 2-7 days before 20% 8+ days before 0%
- ACCEPTED PAYMENT TYPES
- Pay by credit card (VISA, MASTER, JCB, AMEX, DC) via an activity confirmation link in an e-mail that we will send to you following your reservation. Please pay the amount by 3 days prior to the activity at the latest. If not paid by then, the activity reservation will be automatically cancelled.
- OPERATOR NAME
- Toyooka Tourism Innovation