Kyoto Zen Meditation: Garden Tour at Tofukuji Temple

Discover Zen at Tofukuji Temple: Meditate, explore serene gardens, and savor a traditional lunch. Immerse in Kyoto’s rich Zen heritage.

Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 15-chōme-795 Honmachi - Engage in Zen meditation at one of Kyoto’s five prominent Zen temples.
    Learn the art of zazen or Zen meditation from a local expert.
    Explore the Zen garden (dry landscape garden) with insightful commentary from a guide and embrace the serenity.
    Savor traditional vegetarian cuisine that has been served by Zen monks for centuries.
What's Included
  • Sho-jin Buddhist Vegetarian Lunch
  • 4.5 hrs with a local guide
  • Lunch
  • Entrance fee of all venues we will visit
  • Zazen Meditation Experience (1hour)
  • Photos during a tour
Additional Information

What comes to mind when you think of Zen? Before engaging in Zen meditation, a local guide will lead you to a garden where you can immerse yourself in the essence of Zen.
“Zen” is an inherently esoteric Buddhist concept, even for the Japanese. While the word “Zen” may conjure thoughts of Zen meditation, this tour will initially guide you to a garden…

Location
12-chōme-232 Honmachi
Outside of Tofukuji Station EXIT 2, Next to the Family Mart [From Kyoto stn. to Tofukuji stn.] JR line:You can use both rapid trains and local trains. [From Shijyo keihan to Tofukuji station] Keihan line : You can use sub-express, semi express and local trains. Please DO NOT USE express trains.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(180 Ratings)
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Sharon
May 4, 2025
Excellent experience! - We loved this tour, Eri was an excellent guide! She took us through the quieter streets of Kyoto to beautiful temples and we enjoyed the meditation experience with the Buddhist monk and the lovely lunch. Thanks so much Eri!
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S1960cqanthonyv
May 4, 2025
Zen meditation tour - Zen meditation tour with Eri was amazing. Very kind and knowledgeable. 10/10. She was amazing at showing us through the city in Kyoto and providing information about the history and culture of zen in japan.
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Keyenl2024
May 2, 2025
A Deeply Present and Personal Journey Through Zen with Yutaka - The tour through the monk and Zen Buddhism community with Yutaka was an amazing experience. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the different temples and could explain the details behind everything we asked about. The Zen meditation practice was powerful—fun, grounding, and it brought us fully into the present moment. Yutaka was very personable, easy to talk to, and genuinely accommodating throughout the experience. The food at the end was a great touch—not a huge meal, but a delicious sampling of classic Japanese dishes that added a perfect finishing note to the day. Overall, I would highly recommend this tour. Yutaka brings warmth, depth, and a clear love for what he shares. Don’t miss it.
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Shirahe2025
Apr 29, 2025
Best Tour Guide! - Yutaka was the absolute best! We had an amazing meditation experience and we learned so much. The lunch afterwards was delicious!
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Niedael
Apr 29, 2025
Great guide! - Yutaka (our guide) did an outstanding job. He is very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. Highly recommend!
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S8336jpmarke
Apr 29, 2025
Amazing Meditation & Temple Tour - This was amazing!! Yutaka gave us such a great tour. Best meditation I’ve had in a decade. If you’re in Japan you NEED to do this!
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Ivancd4056ho
Apr 29, 2025
Authentic and Inspiring Zen Meditation Experience with Yutaka - I had a wonderful experience with this Zen meditation tour. It was not only relaxing but also deeply insightful. Our guide, Yutaka, did an amazing job explaining the philosophy behind Zen and leading the meditation practice. He was very patient, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience feel truly authentic and welcoming. I especially appreciated the peaceful atmosphere he created and how thoughtfully he answered all our questions. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip — I highly recommend it to anyone looking to connect with Zen culture or simply find a meaningful moment of calm during their travels.
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Alvarittoh
Apr 29, 2025
Very beatifull experience - A fantastic experience, highly recommended. Yukata is a great and very fun guide. People should be do it that tour, the temples are beautifull.
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Silvia
Apr 27, 2025
Great experience with super guide - We were warmly received by Yutaka and taken through beautiful streets. serene temples and gardens. The meditation session was very authentic and the lunch afterwards was delicious. Yutaka knew how to tell everything and made everyone feel comfortable and part of the experience. Unforgettable experience!
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Z5071uojes_so
Apr 29, 2025
Great meditation experience - A wonderful and enriching meditation experience guided by Yutaka Yoshida. He shared insightful information about Buddhism and temples in a kind and engaging way. I’m grateful for his thoughtful guidance and highly recommend this experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $99
up to 7 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).