1-Day retreat tour: Meditation at Sennyuji and the Secret Waterfalls of Fushimi Inari
2025-11-15 09:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-10 09:00 - 16:30 (Europe/London)
This contemplative tour takes you through beautiful back-road temples and shrines, before heading into the hidden mountain trails behind Fushimi Inari Shrine, mixed with meditation sessions in quiet, serene areas without the tourists.
We will begin the day visiting some small yet serene and gorgeous temples in the Sennyuji temple complex. We will learn some background about the historic statues and the key place of those teachings in the development of Buddhist meditation in Japan. We will also see some famous Japanese garden views in one of the remote temples, where the serenity invites contemplative introspection.
Meditation rooms are available in some temple spaces, while in another, we will practice a mini-walking meditation pilgrimage after learning about some of the Japanese pilgrimage traditions.
The tour continues with hidden back-mountain shrines, each offering a special mystique. Some of these areas are used for a traditional Japanese spiritual tradition of “taki-gyo” or “waterfall meditation.” We will have some meditation sessions and lunch in a typically off-limits shrine room.
The trails will ultimately lead us around the back, less-traveled paths of Fushimi Inari Shrine, learning how this special famous shrine grew and developed, and the roles it plays in Japanese spirituality. You may try out the Taki-gyo experience for an extra 1000 yen! (special clothing will be provided).
The variety of environments you can see within a single part of the day should leave a lasting impression, and alongside the practices we do in these spaces, hopefully deep inspiration as well.
Meeting Place: Tofukuji Station
For questions, contact us at:
note: listed cost includes plant-based lunch, taxes, and entree fees. When registering, please alert us to any feed allergies or dietary restrictions.
(If you would like to register a group of 3 or more, feel free to inquire about group discounts!)

1-Day Deep Relaxation and Mindfulness Retreat
2025-11-26 09:30 - 16:00 | Tofukuji Sation, 東山区本町12-224, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
A relaxing, and refreshing, yet informative day, gradually going deeper into mindful meditation practice.
The day will start by meeting at Tofukuji Station.
This unique 1-day retreat experience will begin with a contemplative walk together through a quiet yet beautiful temple complex and see some special Buddhist statues, while we introduce ourselves to each other, and while we go over some basics of the theory behind mindfulness practices. We will then go to our host shrine, the small yet incredibly scenic Gosha Daimyojin Shrine, tucked into a part of town, hidden behind the Fushimi Inari mountain. We will spend most of the day at a private meditation room within the shrine. [funds from the retreat support maintenance of the shrine]
The guided meditations through the day will help us gradually relax more and more, as we also increase our awareness and concentration. In between, we will have time for questions and discussion as well.
Retreat leader: “Jishin” has taught meditation for more than 20 years, practicing at temples in Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. He is ordained in the Japanese Shingon tradition and also holds a PhD with a focus on Buddhist Studies. Jishin has published and spoken around the world on the application of meditation to care in modern times.
Lunch, tea, and snacks included
Optional addition [additional ¥3,000]: Waterfall Meditation – the Gosha shrine includes a beautiful waterfall grotto for the traditional Japanese practice of “takigyo,” meaning waterfall meditation. If anyone would like to close the day with this practice the shrine will provide the special clothing and laundry service, with extra tea service. Jishin will provide the instruction and chanting. This is not for everyone, but can be a very unique experience as very few locations offer this unique practice.

For Inquiries, contact:

Minimum participation age: 15
Discounts available for groups of 3 or more, students, and Kyoto locals: please inquire

1-Day retreat tour: Meditation at Sennyuji and the Secret Waterfalls of Fushimi Inari
2025-12-07 09:00 - 15:30 | Tofukuji Sation, 東山区本町12-224, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
This contemplative tour takes you through beautiful back-road temples and shrines, before heading into the hidden mountain trails behind Fushimi Inari Shrine, mixed with meditation sessions in quiet, serene areas without the tourists.
We will begin the day visiting some small yet serene and gorgeous temples in the Sennyuji temple complex. We will learn some background about the historic statues and the key place of those teachings in the development of Buddhist meditation in Japan. We will also see some famous Japanese garden views in one of the remote temples, where the serenity invites contemplative introspection.
Meditation rooms are available in some temple spaces, while in another, we will practice a mini-walking meditation pilgrimage after learning about some of the Japanese pilgrimage traditions.
The tour continues with hidden back-mountain shrines, each offering a special mystique. Some of these areas are used for a traditional Japanese spiritual tradition of “taki-gyo” or “waterfall meditation.” We will have some meditation sessions and lunch in a typically off-limits shrine room.
The trails will ultimately lead us around the back, less-traveled paths of Fushimi Inari Shrine, learning how this special famous shrine grew and developed, and the roles it plays in Japanese spirituality. [You may try out the Taki-gyo experience for an extra 5000 yen! (special clothing, instruction, and tea afterwards will be provided)].
The variety of environments you can see within a single part of the day should leave a lasting impression, and alongside the practices we do in these spaces, hopefully deep inspiration as well.
Meeting Place: Tofukuji Station
For questions, contact us at:
note: listed cost includes plant-based lunch, taxes, and entree fees. When registering, please alert us to any feed allergies or dietary restrictions.
(If you would like to register a group of 3 or more, feel free to inquire about group discounts!)

1-day Temple Retreat & Tour: Jingoji and Takao Area
2025-12-09 09:00 - 13:00
When Kukai, the founder of Esoteric Buddhism in Japan, returned to Kyoto with new teachings, Jingoji was his first temple of residence. Well before Kukai founded the now-famous UNESCO heritage sites of Toji and Koyasan, he began teaching at this more remote mountain temple. It’s soothing river just outside the grounds and the stone stairs leading up to the temple feel like they transport you to another world outside the busy city life. The temple’s main statue is a Medicine Buddha and the temple and surrounding grounds have been known for traditions of healing through the centuries.
Besides learning some background that this temple played in Japan’s religious, historical, and cultural development, guests will learn about the many symbols that dot the land and have a chance to practice various forms of its traditional meditations. We will learn forms of breathwork and visualization throughout the day, as well as walking meditations and exercising our senses within the nature.

Join us for this refreshing, revitalizing, and beautiful day in Kyoto’s gorgeous northern mountains!

CONTACT us for inquiries
Meeting place: Kyoto Station.
Note: Listed price includes plant-based snacks, taxes, and entree fees

Kuya Falls and the Mountain Rivers: A Half-Day of Mountain Hiking and Healing
2025-12-17 08:00 - 12:30
Hike in the mountains north of Arashiyama, Kyoto in a mountain gorge toward the beautiful Kuya Falls, a sacred waterfall on the remote grounds of an Eight Dragon King Shrine. We will practice numerous contemplative exercises on the way, learning about the origins of these hidden natural wonders as ancient contemplative spaces for mountain ascetics through Japanese history. A day filled with immersing yourself in the magic of nature, living with the traditions of centuries of contemplatives who came before.
We will have also hike to a beautiful spot on the river, in the mountain gorge with flowing rapids for a picnic and sharing of our experiences.
CONTACT us for inquiries:
Price includes plant-based snacks, taxes, and fees.
Please feel free to ask us about group discounts for 3 or more people

1-Day retreat tour: Secret Waterfalls of Fushimi Inari and Serene Sennyuji
2025-12-20 10:00 - 15:30
This contemplative tour takes you through beautiful back-road temples and shrines, before heading into the hidden mountain trails behind Fushimi Inari Shrine, mixed with meditation sessions in quiet, serene areas without the tourists.
We will begin the day visiting some small yet serene and gorgeous temples in the Sennyuji temple complex. We will learn some background about the historic statues and the key place of those teachings in the development of Buddhist meditation in Japan. We will also see some famous Japanese garden views in one of the remote temples, where the serenity invites contemplative introspection.
Meditation rooms are available in some temple spaces, while in another, we will practice a mini-walking meditation pilgrimage after learning about some of the Japanese pilgrimage traditions.
The tour continues with hidden back-mountain shrines, each offering a special mystique. Some of these areas are used for a traditional Japanese spiritual tradition of “taki-gyo” or “waterfall meditation.” We will have some meditation sessions and lunch in a typically off-limits shrine room.
The trails will ultimately lead us around the back, less-traveled paths of Fushimi Inari Shrine, learning how this special famous shrine grew and developed, and the roles it plays in Japanese spirituality.
The variety of environments you can see within a single part of the day should leave a lasting impression, and alongside the practices we do in these spaces, hopefully deep inspiration as well.
Meeting Place: Tofukuji Station
For questions, contact us at:
note: taxes, and entree fees. When registering, please alert us to any feed allergies or dietary restrictions.
However, please bring a bento-type lunch for our picnic along the way.
(If you would like to register a group of 3 or more, feel free to inquire about group discounts!)

1-Day Deep Relaxation and Mindfulness Retreat
2025-12-22 08:30 - 16:00
A relaxing, and refreshing, yet informative day, gradually going deeper into mindful meditation practice.
The day will start by meeting at Tofukuji Station.
This unique 1-day retreat experience will begin with a contemplative walk together through a quiet yet beautiful temple complex and see some special Buddhist statues, while we introduce ourselves to each other, and while we go over some basics of the theory behind mindfulness practices. We will then go to our host shrine, the small yet incredibly scenic Gosha Daimyojin Shrine, tucked into a part of town, hidden behind the Fushimi Inari mountain. We will spend most of the day at a private meditation room within the shrine. [funds from the retreat support maintenance of the shrine]
The guided meditations through the day will help us gradually relax more and more, as we also increase our awareness and concentration. In between, we will have time for questions and discussion as well.
Retreat leader: “Jishin” has taught meditation for more than 20 years, practicing at temples in Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. He is ordained in the Japanese Shingon tradition and also holds a PhD with a focus on Buddhist Studies. Jishin has published and spoken around the world on the application of meditation to care in modern times.
Lunch, tea, and snacks included

{images of host shrine for the retreat}
Optional addition [additional ¥3,000]: Waterfall Meditation – the Gosha shrine includes a beautiful waterfall grotto for the traditional Japanese practice of “takigyo,” meaning waterfall meditation. If anyone would like to close the day with this practice the shrine will provide the special clothing and laundry service, with extra tea service. Jishin will provide the instruction and chanting. This is not for everyone, but can be a very unique experience as very few locations offer this unique practice.

For Inquiries, contact:

Minimum participation age: 15
Discounts available for groups of 3 or more, students, and Kyoto locals: please inquire

1-day Meditation Retreat: Compassion for body, mind, and world
2025-12-23 08:30 - 16:00
Spend the day treating your body and mind right. We will begin with some relaxation meditations, but as the day goes on, you will learn a variety of compassion meditations, beginning with more self-compassion and release, gradually working with group compassion meditations for the world.
Proceeds from retreat will help maintain the primary venue, Gosha Shrine (smaller temples and shrines need support to survive, as they don’t receive the donations that bigger more popular places do) As both a beautiful, sacred place to host the retreat, and a place that needs more visitors, IJJ aims to support mutual beneficial connections like this. [For an optional extra 5,000 yen, we can also add a waterfall meditation on site at the end of the retreat].
Lunch, tea, coffee and snacks through the day also included.
Learning several compassion based meditations through the course of the day, and working through them with a small group, you will come out of the day feeling refreshed and revitalized, ready to start anew in 2025. A perfect treat for your body and mind 😉
Retreat leader: Jishin is ordained in the Shingon Buddhist tradition, but previously also trained at temples in Thailand, Taiwan, and Korea. Jishin has taught meditation for more than 20 years and also eared his PhD, researching meditation applied to healthy care and compassion.

{images of host shrine for the retreat}
For inquiries, contact:
Minimum participation age: 15
Discounts available for students, groups of 3 or more, and Kyoto locals: please inquire
NOTE: Venue will be at Gosha Shrine, but we will meet just outside Tofukuji Station and head there together.

1-day New Year Meditation Retreat
2026-01-04 08:30 - 16:30
Start the New Year right, letting go of all stress and baggage of 2025, while refreshing your spirit and mind for 2026.
The day will start by meeting at Tofukuji Station.
This 1-day retreat experience will begin with a contemplative walk together through a quiet yet beautiful temple complex and see some special Buddhist statues, while we introduce ourselves to each other, and while we go over some basics of the theory behind mindfulness practices. We will then go to our host shrine, the small yet incredibly scenic Gosha Daimyojin Shrine, tucked into a part of town, hidden behind the Fushimi Inari mountain. We will spend most of the day at a private meditation room within the shrine. [funds from the retreat support maintenance of the shrine]
The guided meditations through the day will help us gradually relax more and more, as we also increase our awareness and concentration. In between, we will have time for questions and discussion as well.
You will have the opportunity to release many aspects of stress or tension from the previous year, and prepare your mind with a fresh and renewed sense for the new year!
Retreat leader: “Jishin” has taught meditation for more than 20 years, practicing at temples in Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. He is ordained in the Japanese Shingon tradition and also holds a PhD with a focus on Buddhist Studies. Jishin has published and spoken around the world on the application of meditation to care in modern times.
Lunch, tea, and snacks included

Reiki Healing Tour: The Origins and Practices of Reiki in Kyoto's Mountains
2026-01-10 08:30 - 13:00 | Demachiyagani Station, 32-1, Tanaka Kamiyanagicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Reiki is a growing energy work and healing practice with roots in esoteric Japanese traditions. During this tour, we will explore the origins and practices of reiki in some of the places where it began and spread, along with the beautiful surroundings of those areas.
Whether you just are curious about this tradition or experienced in it, all are welcome to come explore these roots in an area of Northern Kyoto mountains also known for “Tengu,” wise winged mountain spirits.
CONTACT us for inquiries:
Meet at Demachiyagani Station
note: listed cost includes snacks, taxes, and entree fees
(please feel free to inquire about family or group pricing if you have 3 or more people!)

京都の裏側名所を巡るリトリートツアーと瞑想体験
2026-01-24 09:15 - 15:30
このツアーでは、京都の主要な観光地から少し離れた秘境のような寺社をご案内いたします。泉涌寺周辺、伏見稲荷大社の裏参道、そして隠れた滝行スポットを散策します。
泉涌寺の歴史深い名所をご案内します。密教の瞑想について学び、阿字観を体験。その後、近くの隠れて美しい神社を巡り、境内の休憩所で昼食をとります。昼食後は、伏見稲荷大社の奥まった自然歩道を散策。山の奥には人影が少なく、多くの滝行の名所を見学することができます。

京都の秘境神社で瞑想リトリート
2026-01-25 09:00 - 16:00
美しく静かで自然豊かな神社で行われる冬のリトリートは１年のはじまりに心身を浄化することをテーマとしています。様々な瞑想法を学びながら、リラックスし、リフレッシュし、今年一年を新たな気持ちで過ごせるように心を整えます。
五社大明神の一室で行われ、リトリートの費用は五社大明神の修復活動にも充てられます。
五社大明神は京都の奥まった場所、伏見稲荷大社の裏手にあります。

京都の裏側名所を巡るツアー
2026-02-15 08:30 - 12:00 | Tofukuji Sation, 東山区本町12-224, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
このツアーでは、京都の主要な観光地から少し離れた秘境のような寺社をご案内いたします。泉涌寺周辺、伏見稲荷大社の裏参道、そして隠れた滝行スポットを散策します。
泉涌寺の歴史深い名所をご案内します。密教の瞑想について学び。その後、近くの隠れて美しい神社を巡り、伏見稲荷大社の奥まった自然歩道を散策。山の奥には人影が少なく、多くの滝行の名所を見学することができます。
集合場所：東福寺駅東口
ガイド：ミシャン慈心（宗教学博士、真言宗の阿闍梨、修験道の先達、龍谷大学の非常勤講師）

京都の秘境神社で半日慈しみ瞑想リトリート
2026-02-15 13:30 - 17:00 | Tofukuji Sation, 東山区本町12-224, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
美しく静かで自然豊かな神社で行われる冬のリトリートはバレンタインデーの週末に自分にも世界にも慈しみをテーマとしています。様々な瞑想法を学びながら、リラックスし、リフレッシュし、セルフケアも世界への慈悲や慈しみを新たな気持ちで過ごせるように心を整えます。
五社大明神の一室で行われ、リトリートの費用は五社大明神の修復活動にも充てられます。
五社大明神は京都の奥まった場所、伏見稲荷大社の裏手にあります。

集合場所：東福寺駅東口
瞑想指導者：ミシャン慈心（宗教学博士、真言宗の阿闍梨、修験道の先達、20年以上瞑想指導）

Morning Meditation Retreat at Secluded Shrine
2026-03-17 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-17 08:00 - 12:00 | Tofukuji Sation, 東山区本町12-224, Kyoto, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
Spend the morning in a quiet calm and magical area of Kyoto, hidden away from the crowds. We will practice a few forms of meditation throughout the morning to both relax and revitalize as Spring begins to flourish around Kyoto. Whether you are new to meditation or very experienced, this morning retreat can offer adaptations to fit you.

We will meet at Tofukuji Station at 8am, and walk together from there to Gosh-no-Taki Shrine.
Meditation Guide: A Shingon Buddhist Priest, who previously trained extensively in Zen and Thai Forest traditions. “Jishin” has about 20 years experience guiding meditations. With a PhD in culture and history of religions, and experience teaching in several universities around the world, Jishin has both the academic and insider understandings of Buddhism and Japanese religion. Previously a researcher at Tohoku University and Ryukoku University on Buddhist chaplaincy, Jishin wrote about and volunteered in disaster and crisis care. Their books include Refuge in the Storm: Buddhist Voices in Crisis Care and A Thousand Hands: A Guidebook to Caring for your Buddhist Community. Jishin was also certified as a Clinical Meditation Teacher.
For Questions and Inquiries, feel free to contact:

OPTIONAL ADDITION: For an extra donation to the shrine, those interested may also try “Taki-gyo” (waterfall meditation) after the retreat period. Taki-gyo is a about a 1300 year-old meditation tradition in Japan that involves chanting meditation while standing under a waterfall. The shrine will provide special clothing, laundry service and a warm shower, while Jishin will provide instructions. Please mention if you are interested in adding this unique experience.

half-day retreat tour: Secrets of Fushimi Inari Shrine and Sennyuji
2026-04-16 13:30 - 17:30
This contemplative tour takes you through beautiful back-road temples and shrines, before heading into the hidden mountain trails behind Fushimi Inari Shrine. Whereas the main paths of Fushimi Inari shrine can get incredibly congested, we will travel on the more hidden paths with few to no people that are maybe even more beautiful than the trails more traveled.
We will begin the day visiting some small yet serene and gorgeous temples in the Sennyuji temple complex. We will learn some background about the historic statues and the key place of those teachings in the development of Buddhist meditation in Japan. We will also see some famous Japanese garden views in one of the remote temples, where the serenity invites contemplative introspection.
The tour continues with hidden back-mountain shrines, each offering a special mystique. Some of these areas are used for a traditional Japanese spiritual tradition of “taki-gyo” or “waterfall meditation.” (maybe some of you have seen depictions of this practice in anime!) The trails will ultimately lead us around the back, less-traveled paths of Fushimi Inari Shrine, learning how this special famous shrine grew and developed, and the roles it plays in Japanese spirituality with some contemplative exercises in the beautiful mountain forest along the way.
The variety of environments you can see within a single part of the day should leave a lasting impression, and alongside the practices we do in these spaces, hopefully deep inspiration as well.
Meeting Place: Tofukuji Station
For questions, contact us at:
note: listed cost includes taxes and entree fees

Kuya Falls and the Mountain Rivers: A Morning of Mountain Hiking and Healing
2026-04-23 08:30 - 12:00
Hike in the mountains north of Arashiyama, Kyoto in a mountain gorge toward the beautiful Kuya Falls, a sacred waterfall on the remote grounds of an Eight Dragon King Shrine. We will practice numerous meditation exercises on the way, learning about the origins of these hidden natural wonders as ancient contemplative spaces for mountain ascetics through Japanese history. A day filled with immersing yourself in the magic of nature, living with the traditions of centuries of contemplatives who came before.
We will have also hike to a beautiful spot on the river, in the mountain gorge with flowing rapids for a picnic and sharing of our experiences.
CONTACT us for inquiries:
Snacks, fees, and taxes included in pricing.
Please contact us for group pricing for 3 or more people

Kuya Falls and the Mountain Rivers: A Day of Mountain Hiking and Healing (away from golden week crowds!))
2026-05-07 09:30 - 13:00
Hike in the mountains north of Arashiyama, Kyoto in a mountain gorge toward the beautiful Kuya Falls, a sacred waterfall on the remote grounds of an Eight Dragon King Shrine. We will practice numerous contemplative exercises on the way, learning about the origins of these hidden natural wonders as ancient contemplative spaces for mountain ascetics through Japanese history. A day filled with immersing yourself in the magic of nature, living with the traditions of centuries of contemplatives who came before.
We will have also hike to a beautiful spot on the river, in the mountain gorge with flowing rapids for a picnic and sharing of our experiences.
CONTACT us for inquiries:
note: listed cost includes plant-based snacks, taxes, and entree fees. When registering, please alert us to any feed allergies or dietary restrictions.
(If you would like to register a group of 3 or more, feel free to inquire about group discounts!)

Morning Meditation Retreat at Secluded Shrine
2026-05-15 08:00 - 12:30
Spend the morning in a quiet calm and magical area of Kyoto, hidden away from the crowds. We will practice a few forms of meditation throughout the morning to both relax and revitalize as Spring begins to flourish around Kyoto. Being in a quiet, hidden shrine with the sounds of a waterfall and birds in the background help set the mood of the space, as you are guided through a series of deep relaxation and kindness meditations. Whether you are new to meditation or very experienced, this morning retreat can offer adaptations to fit you.
We will meet at Tofukuji Station at 8am, and walk together from there to Gosh-no-Taki Shrine. You will also receive a short behind-the-scenes tour of the shrine with areas the public does not get to see.
Fees from the meditation also support repairs at the shrine

Meditation Guide: A Shingon Buddhist Priest, who previously trained extensively in Zen and Thai Forest traditions. “Jishin” has about 20 years experience guiding meditations. With a PhD in culture and history of religions, and experience teaching in several universities around the world, Jishin has both the academic and insider understandings of Buddhism and Japanese religion. Previously a researcher at Tohoku University and Ryukoku University on Buddhist chaplaincy, Jishin wrote about and volunteered in disaster and crisis care. Their books include Refuge in the Storm: Buddhist Voices in Crisis Care and A Thousand Hands: A Guidebook to Caring for your Buddhist Community. Jishin was also certified as a Clinical Meditation Teacher.
For Questions and Inquiries, feel free to contact:

OPTIONAL ADDITION: For an extra donation to the shrine, those interested may also try “Taki-gyo” (waterfall meditation) after the retreat period. Taki-gyo is a about a 1300 year-old meditation tradition in Japan that involves chanting meditation while standing under a waterfall. The shrine will provide special clothing, laundry service and a warm shower, while Jishin will provide instructions. Please mention if you are interested in adding this unique experience.

Half-day Meditation Retreat: Compassion for body, mind, and world
2026-06-06 08:30 - 12:30
Spend the morning treating your body and mind right. We will begin with some basic relaxation meditations, but as the day goes on, you will learn a variety of compassion meditations, beginning with more self-compassion and release, gradually working with group compassion meditations for the world.
Learning a few compassion based meditations through the course of the morning, and working through them with a small group, can be perfect treat for your body and mind 😉 Also, through the meditations and discussions that follow, you can hopefully learn some tools for both meditation and human interaction to take into your daily life.
Proceeds from retreat will help maintain the primary venue, Gosha Shrine (smaller temples and shrines need support to survive, as they don’t receive the donations that bigger more popular places do) As both a beautiful, sacred place to host the retreat, and a place that needs more visitors, IJJ aims to support mutual beneficial connections like this. [For an optional extra 5,000 yen, we can also add a waterfall meditation on site at the end of the retreat].
Tea, coffee and snacks also included.

For Anyone interested in adding “Taki-gyo” waterfall meditation at the end of the retreat, please inquire.

Retreat leader: Jishin is ordained in the Shingon Buddhist tradition, but previously also trained at temples in Thailand, Taiwan, and Korea. Jishin has taught meditation for more than 20 years and also eared his PhD, researching meditation applied to healthy care and compassion.

{images of host shrine for the retreat}
For inquiries, contact:
Minimum participation age: 15
Discounts available for students, groups of 3 or more: please inquire.
NOTE: Venue will be at Gosha Shrine, but we will meet just outside Tofukuji Station and head there together.

Uji Matcha, Nature, and Temples: Serenity and Contemplation in the Tea Town
2026-07-02 09:00 - 16:00
A scenic and relaxing days wondering through the quiet areas of Uji, matcha capital of the world. Learning the history and background of how that tea developed in Japan, and its relationship to Buddhism and meditation. We will explore a few of the more quiet temples and shrines of the city as well, learning some of the meditations related to tea and appreciating the five senses.
The day begins in a beautiful and unique Zen temple. Depending on the day and group preferences, we will either break for lunch at the temple or at a cozy restaurant in downtown Uji (with veggie/vegan options). Then, we will sample some of the tea from historical tea shops and explore a famous old shrine in the town. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to try a few mindful meditation exercises and learn about the deeper connection between those practices and the tea culture of Japan.
Program cost includes high quality tea, transportation between sites and site entry fees, as well as other associated taxes and fees.
Lunch is not included within the program cost.
We will meet at Chushojima Station
About the guide:
Jishin completed a PhD in Cultures and Histories of Religion in Berkeley, California, and teaches Japanese religions part-time at Ryukoku University in Kyoto. Jishin is ordained as a Buddhist priest within the Shingon school, and trained directly in a few other Japanese spiritual traditions, including its mountain spirituality, “Shugendo.” A leading author on Buddhist care and meditation traditions, and a meditation teacher for over twenty years, Jishin offers both a depth of knowledge from the academic cultural and historical angle, alongside personal experience training and practicing in the types of sites you will see.

Clinical Meditation Certificate Program and Retreat
2026-07-07 08:00 - 2026-07-14 17:00
Based on the Japanese clinical meditation program developed by Rev. Oshita Daien through nearly 40 years of work in applying meditation in clinical settings, we now offer an English version of the program.
Oshita Daien’s innovative system organizes myriad world meditation styles into four categories. So that rather than a one-size-fits-all application of meditation to needs of a patient or individual, meditation types can be better adapted to fit a person’s needs.
This is a very involved training program with 4 phases:
1) Application: Applicants submit detailed essays about their experience and intentions for joining such a program. Through the essays and an online interview, we will try to ensure this truly is the right program for you and be able to adapt certain aspects of it to fit your own professional needs.
2) Preliminary Remote/Online Training: Once you begin the program, you have access to a variety of readings and videos that introduce various parts of the 4 meditation categories, explain their background, and sample video meditations to follow. You will practice the different styles yourself and write journals about your journey with the practices, and reflections about how you think they can apply to your own life and work.
3) One Week Training Retreat: All participants from the cohort will gather at the monastery in Japan for an intensive week-long retreat. You get to stay at a 1000+ year old expansive mountain top temple complex, Hida Senkoji. We will have numerous in-person meditations together, along with dialogs about the practice and its application in different settings. the last portion of the week will also include role-playing activities when you will guide meditations for others in various conditions. The feedback from these exercises, along with follow-up advising and discussions, will help refine both your own capacity to help others through a meditative practice, and also help us reflect on our own meditation experiences in more depth.
4) After returning home, you will begin some practice with applying these methods with friends, colleagues, and others you know. You will submit further journals about your experience, and we will join you for online reflection and feedback about your experiences and any issues that arise. After accumulating 15 hours of leadership experience, and submitting all required journals, you will qualify for the initial certification.
Certification: After completing requirements for all stages of the program, we will issue your Clinical Meditation Teacher Level 1 certificate.
Included in costs are:
– All communications, consultations, and training before and after the retreat (includes bilingual Clinical Meditation Introductory book, other readings, and 40-day program with numerous videos)
– Room, board, and all training during the retreat (please note that as a retreat, food is lighter on purpose: 2 main meals plus snacks will be available; also please ensure we are aware of any allergies or dietary needs).
– Certificate at end of program
About Oshita Daien: Oshita Daien now has more than 3 decades working in and transforming hospitals and hospices in Japan. He opened one of Japan’s first university chaplaincy programs, created a public spiritual care training program, created the clinical meditation system and training program, and has authored or co-authored over 15 books. He ordained as a Shingon Buddhist priest in Japan, but also trained as a Theravada Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka. He then worked as a researcher at Kyoto University, studying meditation traditions around the world as well as psychology and care. He became the abbot of Hida Senkoji Temple for many years and a Maha-Acharya (high ranking priest), before recently passing on abbot duties of the temple.
About Jishin Michon: Jishin is also ordained in the Shingon tradition, but previously trained in Theravada and Zen, as well as ordaining as an interfaith minister. Jishin received a MDiv in Buddhist chaplaincy and a PhD in cultures and histories of religion, while researching Japanese innovations in spiritual care. Jishin teaches part-time at Ryukoku University, leads retreats through Inward Journeys Japan, and is editor of A Thousand Hands: How to Care for Your Buddhist Community and Refuge in the Storm: Buddhist Voices in Crisis Care.
About Hida Senkoji Temple (retreat site): A beautiful, expansive and historic temple located on the edge of the Japanese Alps in Gifu Prefecture. The mountain top temple includes a forested pilgrimage route, numerous temple buildings and important cultural properties, and stunning mountain views. The temple also features the World Harmony Meditation Center, especially used for retreats and clinical meditation trainings. One of its most famous historical inhabitants was Enku, a Buddhist priest who traveled Japan hundreds of years ago visiting and caring for thousands of disaster victims. He is known to have carved many thousands of small Buddha statues to give to such people, and numerous famous old statues are still preserved at Hida Senkoji today.

[images of Global Peace Meditation Center located at Hida Senkoji Temple, and a center for training in Clinical Meditation]

[images of an Enku Buddha carving at Senkoji Temple, one of the famous temple trees, and some of the temple grounds]

[Rev. Jishin leading a prayer and reflection at a disaster site in Northern Japan]
