Private Tour

Experience Zen meditation or sutra copying, and enjoy vegetarian food with monk

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Gokuraku Zenji is one of the seven temples that protect the Aso Shrine, and has a history of over 450 years. You will spend a luxurious time to purify your mind and body with zazen meditation, where you empty your mind and just sit and look at yourself, and with healthy vegetarian food made with seasonal ingredients and care for the people who eat it.

Although this is a famous temple with a long history, the monk will guide you very carefully, so even those who are not good at sitting on the floor or who have never experienced Zen meditation before can participate with ease.

In addition, the vegetarian food, made with plenty of local ingredients, is a gem in appearance, taste, and volume.

If sitting on the floor is not for you, you can also sit on a chair.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Lunch

Air-conditioned vehicle

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

At Gokuraku Zenji Temple, the family temple of the Aso family, you can experience Zen meditation or sutra copying, and feel the time of the long history of Aso. After the experience, you will be taken on a tour of the Gokuraku Zen temple grounds with the guidance of a monk, and enjoy a healthy vegetarian meal made with plenty of local ingredients and home-grown vegetables. After the meal, we will enjoy green tea and sweets prepared in the Omotesenke style, and have a relaxing time. Finally, the experience ends with the ringing of the temple bell. This is a time to experience the history of Shugendo in Aso from over 1200 years ago.

Sample Menu

main

a healthy vegetarian meal (shoujin - cuisine)

dessert

green tea and sweets

starter

Homemade plum wine, root vegetable potage soup

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