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Experience Zen meditation and a Sencha tea ceremony. Meditating first lets you embrace the serenity of tea culture, immersing in its beauty and depth—something rarely found in a typical setting.
Tour Flow
Here is the typical flow of our zazen meditation and Sencha tea experience at Joju-ji Temple. The order and timing may vary slightly depending on the day.
Your guide will meet you at Joju-ji’s main gate, located at the foot of the stone steps. Please wait there without climbing the steps.
From there, enter the temple grounds together while learning about the history of Joju-ji and the setting in which you will practice zazen.
Enter the main hall, where the head priest will introduce the basic ideas of Zen and explain how to practice zazen, including posture, breathing, and where to direct your attention. English interpretation will be provided throughout the explanation.
Begin with a shorter zazen session of approximately 10 minutes.
This first sitting offers a gentle introduction to the practice and allows you to experience the posture, breathing, and stillness for yourself.
Take a short break after the first session. You can ask practical questions, share what you noticed, and receive further guidance from the head priest before sitting again.
Enter the second session with a body and mind alReturn to zazen for a longer session of approximately 15–20 minutes. With the experience of the first sitting, you may find it easier to settle into your posture and give your attention more fully to the practice.
Move to the temple’s hōjō for approximately 15 minutes of conversation with the head priest. You are welcome to ask not only about Zen and zazen, but also about temple life, Japanese culture, and other subjects that interest you.
After zazen, take part in a Sencha tea ceremony. Unlike the more widely known tea ceremony using powdered matcha, Sencha tea practice centers on tea carefully brewed from whole leaves. Carry the quiet attention of zazen into the ceremony as you experience the tea, its preparation, and the atmosphere created around it.
After the tea gathering, take your time to talk about the tea, Japanese culture, or anything else that has stayed with you during the experience. There is no need to rush—relax and enjoy these final moments of conversation before saying farewell.
