Seated meditation, Japanese-style garden, enjoying tea with a Zen priest...a serene time at Kyoto's temples and shrines

How about having some quiet time doing seated meditation at a shrine or temple in Kyoto, and enjoying a cup of tea while looking at the Japanese-style garden? The experience of healing your heart and enjoying Japanese culture during your trip awaits you.

■ Have some time with a Zen priest in seated meditation while gazing at the Japanese-style garden from early morning at Ryosokuin
　Gion area where many temples are located, is a popular area with many eateries and souvenir shops. At the corner, you will find a temple where you can have a quiet time to look inside yourself from early in the morning experiencing seated meditation to balance your body; facing the garden that changes its color through the seasons, and spend time in serenity.

　This temple has been offering the seated meditation experience for over 15 years. We would like you to learn how to do seated meditation from this experience, practice it in many different locations in your own time, and have time for self-discovery and looking inside yourself.

　You can try seated meditation alone, but in Zen Buddhism, it is important to move the body in two ways: "Still" for seated meditation, and "Moving" for cleaning. After experiencing both activities, we recommend you do a course that allows you to talk with a Zen priest. All the courses require a charge and booking in advance.

・ Time to relax drinking Japanese tea with a Zen priest after seated meditation and cleaning

Participants sit in a circle around a Zen monk, and while drinking Japanese green tea or coarse tea, talk about questions and things they have noticed about seated meditation, and share knowledge to deepen what is already known about seated meditation. The temple says they would welcome believers of all religions and recommend that everyone experience seated meditation.

・ Ryosokuin's location
　　591 Komatsucho, 4-chome, Shijo Sagaru, Yamatooji-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi

■ Take in the nature on the grounds of the shrine and have some time with a cup of coffee brewed with famous mineral water...Coffee Base NASHINOKI
　After visiting Nashinoki Shrine, why not spend some time in a space used as a rest area within the shrine grounds, drinking coffee made from one of the three best waters in Kyoto, and relaxing in a rich natural setting. It is rare in Kyoto to have such an experience in the precincts of the shrine, and it is very relaxing!

At the porch of the tea room, which was relocated from the Imperial Palace, observe the colors of the trees that change with the seasons, have a dreamy view of the garden and enjoy the time passing by! Enjoying coffee here is such a blissful time.

・ Cold brew coffee carefully selected by country of origin, place of origin, and farm and Japanese seasonal sweets

▲ Cold brew coffee BLEND and seasonal Japanese sweets (picture is of a chestnut manju sweet) set 1,030 yen (the prices below are tax-included.)

As the coffee is freshly brewed, its taste is very mellow and refreshing. The coffee roasted at a specialty coffee shop has such a special aroma and is very delicious. You would need a reservation, but there is also a course where you can try coffees made through different brewing methods with the same beans. Make sure to check the seasonal Japanese sweets made with a long-established Japanese confectionery shop as well!

・ Coffee Base NASHINOKI location
680 Somedono-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Inside Nashinoki Shrine

・ In the corner of Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, feel the beautiful 4 seasons and have some time with original Japanese sweets from a long-established Japanese confectionery shop... Inside the Konoe Residence Ruins rest area's SASAYAIORI + Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
The restaurant is located in the rest area of the Konoe Residence in the northwest part of Kyoto Gyoen. It is surrounded by large windows on three sides, and you can enjoy seasonal fresh sweets while enjoying the colors of the trees, that change with the seasons. The seats inside the store are arranged to face the window, so you can enjoy looking at the trees outside.

・ Set of fresh authentic sweets you can enjoy with all the five senses, only available at this shop, and matcha green tea prepared in a traditional way: 1,100 yen

▲ The picture is a Japanese traditional sweet called “Aoi Matsuri,” but the sweet served changed depending on the season, so get excited to see what kind of fresh sweet you are going to get!

The fresh Japanese confectionery is sweets that foresee the 4 seasons of Japan, and give us seasonal sense through its art. They are made by skilled pastry cooks at Sasayaiori, a long-established Japanese confectionery shop with over 300 years of history. Japanese confectionary is said to be an art of the five senses: enjoying with the eyes, having the scent with the nose, flavoring with the mouth, feeling the texture with the tongue, listening to the names of the sweets with the ears and appreciating the season. Enjoy Japanese sweets with all five senses, along with delicious matcha tea brewed in a traditional way!

・ Limited to this restaurant / Popular Fukkra Dorayaki Uji Matcha Special 950 yen

Fukkra Dorayaki is a fluffy pancake-like sandwich with matcha ice cream, matcha bean paste, whipped cream, and sweet bean paste with our special matcha used in tea ceremonies. A rice flour dumpling adds the taste, texture, color to enjoy and this dorayaki is popular among Wagashi (Japanese confectionary) beginners as well.

▲ The building is surrounded on three sides by windows, providing a good view of the greenery and trees outside and allowing visitors to spend a relaxing time.

▲ The restaurant is located in a corner of the Gyoen, surrounded by cherry and pine trees, the best spot to see cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring.

・ Location of SASAYAIORI + Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
3 Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto Inside the Konoe Residence ruins rest area