expedia
Skip to main content
One Key

Earn OneKeyCash when you sign in and book an activity

Sign in
A person in traditional attire sitting on a red carpet in a room with large windows and a hanging scroll. 1
A person in traditional attire holding prayer beads in a room with sliding doors and a hanging ornament. 2
A traditional Japanese building with a sign for Kasei Bashi-dori Ave. 3
A traditional Japanese building entrance with a wooden sign, a small shrine, and a staircase leading inside. 4
A person in traditional attire holding a long stick, possibly a ceremonial object, in a room with ornate decorations and a red carpet. 5

Tokyo: Private Zen Meditation & Tea Ceremony with a Monk

By Alva Japan Tours🇯🇵
Free cancellation available
Price is £78 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 1h 20m+
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Multiple languages

Overview

  • Settle in with posture & breathing guidance from a monk
  • Practice authentic zazen in a tranquil temple hall
  • Learn about shakyo (sutra copying) and Zen philosophy
  • Reflect & ask questions with bilingual support
  • Unwind with matcha tea & a small sweet after the session

Activity location

    • Tokyo
    • Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

    • 日本、〒135-0033 東京都江東区深川２丁目１６−２７ | We’ll meet in front of the temple located on the corner of the intersection. The person holding a smartphone displaying “AlvaJapan” is our staff. Please note that there are other temples nearby, so be careful not to mistake the location.
    • Koto City, Tokyo, Japan

Check availability

Tokyo: Authentic Zen Meditation at a Traditional Temple

  • Activity duration is 1 hour and 20 minutes1h 20m
    1h 20m
  • English
Price details
£78.40 x 1 Adult£78.40
Total
Price is £78.40

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Guided Zen meditation session with a monk
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Bilingual support (English/Japanese)
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Cultural insight into shakyo
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Matcha tea & seasonal sweet (light refreshment)
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Support cushions for sitting (on request)
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Transport to/from the temple
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Additional food and drinks

Know before you book

  • In accordance with UK consumer law, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.
  • This activity is provided by a professional trader (a party acting within their trade, business or profession).

What you can expect

Enter a historic Zen temple in Tokyo and experience zazen meditation as it has been practised for centuries.

Begin with a monk’s introduction to the foundations of Zen—how to sit, breathe, and calm the mind. A short trial meditation helps you get comfortable with the posture, before moving into a longer main session. For those who wish, the traditional keisaku (encouragement stick) may be offered to help restore focus.

The monk will also share insights into related practices such as sutra copying (shakyo), explaining how writing Buddhist texts has been used as meditation for centuries. This cultural context enriches your understanding of Zen beyond simply sitting.

After the meditation, you’ll have time for reflection and Q&A, with a bilingual guide supporting translation. A light serving of matcha tea and a sweet is offered to close the experience, not as a ceremony but as a simple way to relax in the temple atmosphere.

This 1.5-hour programme is designed for travellers seeking a genuine traditional Zen experience in Japan, whether you are a beginner or already familiar with meditation.

All practices are optional and adapted to your comfort; the traditional keisaku (encouragement stick) is offered only on request.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    • Tokyo
    • Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    • 日本、〒135-0033 東京都江東区深川２丁目１６−２７ | We’ll meet in front of the temple located on the corner of the intersection. The person holding a smartphone displaying “AlvaJapan” is our staff. Please note that there are other temples nearby, so be careful not to mistake the location.
    • Koto City, Tokyo, Japan