Zazen meditation and stay in Tokyo Japan (shukubo)

Zazen meditation and stay in Tokyo Japan (shukubo) - Statue of Liberty during Night Time

I have seen similar question here:

Zen meditation in Kyoto, Japan

so I decided to ask for almost the same, but in Tokyo.

What temples can be recommended for temple lodging (shukubo) perhaps for 2 - 3 day?

I am interested in zazen meditation, but also other, let's call it 'activities' - like preparing Miso or lecture about Sutras - for example.

And I can't create 'zazen' and 'buddhism' tag - because I have not enough reputation ;)



Best Answer

You're looking for a sesshin (??), a multi-day meditation course arranged by Zen temples that lets you experience an approximation of a monk's life. However, since you (presumably) will need English instruction, these are usually only arranged a couple of times of a year; it's not really possible to rock up to a temple with no advance warning and ask them to put you up for a few days. (Well, you can always ask, I suppose, just don't expect a yes unless you've got someone to introduce you.) I'm only aware of two temples in or around Tokyo that run them regularly:

  • T?sh?ji (???), in Shinagawa, Tokyo. 5-day sesshin twice a year.
  • San'un Zendo (????), in Kamakura. Foreigner-friendly courses 4x/year.

See Zen in Tokyo and Wikivoyage's Meditation in Japan pages for other leads. Or head to a temple hotspot like Mount Koya, which is chock full of shukubo (mostly Shingon though, not Zen).

EDIT: You say you're looking for shukubo, but the ones I've stayed in (probably a good half-dozen?) are very much lodges first and temples second, with tennis courts, hot springs, sake served with your meals, etc. You're usually allowed to join the morning service, but that's about it, it's pretty far from a monk's life. Nonetheless, taking your request at face value:

Syukubo.com (Japanese only) knows of only two in Tokyo, and both only technically -- one's up a mountain in the far west reaches of the prefecture (Mitake-san), the other's a two-day boat ride south (Ogasawara Islands). This place in Chiba looks otherwise OK, they'll even let you work for free if you pay the ¥8500 a night, but they're Nichiren and thus the polar opposite of Zen. Most of the rest seem either closed, or tilted way towards the resort-y end of the spectrum... but good luck hunting!




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Which is the Japanese meditation method you can experience at shukubo?

Koyasan Shukubo Sainanin (Wakayama) They offer a range of interesting activities, including morning ceremony, zen meditation, and hand-copying Buddhist scriptures. Traditional shojin-ryori is served for breakfast and dinner.

How can I stay in Zen temple in Japan?

But the most popular destination to experience a temple stay is at one of over 50 shukubo on Mount Koya, where the monks are accustomed to foreign guests and reservations can be easily made in English. Bookings should be made in advance and are typically made directly with the temple by phone, fax or email.

Can you stay at a Buddhist monastery Japan?

Many Buddhist temples in Japan offer visitors a chance to stay overnight and experience the daily life of the temple, from vegetarian meals, to prayers and meditation. A Japanese temple stay offers peace and tranquility, and the opportunity to experience life at a slower pace.

Is zazen the same as Zen?

Zen meditation, also known as Zazen, is a meditation technique rooted in Buddhist psychology. The goal of Zen meditation is to regulate attention. 1\ufeff It's sometimes referred to as a practice that involves \u201cthinking about not thinking.\u201d



How to stay overnight in a temple in Japan




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