Kamakura Trip Overview
In this course, you can experience Zen at an ancient Zen temple. You will be able to see Zen art, learn about Zen story paintings, and experience Zen meditation. This three-hour course is a beginner-friendly course that will teach you the Zen way of thinking in an accessible manner. Kamakura is the birthplace of Zen in Japan and is a popular tourist destination for foreigners. The venue is the Zen temple “Kigen-in,” which usually prohibits tourists from entering. Before and after the zazen experience, we will draw the circular Zen symbol “Enso,” which is a kind of Zen art. After this, we will perform Zen meditation (3 times) and listen to a commentary on the paintings of Zen and learn the philosophy of Zen by combining what you have learned and your Zen experience. When you draw an Enso for the second time, you will draw on our handmade paper, certified by UNESCO. You can experience the transformative power of Zen by comparing the two Enso.
Additional Info
Duration: 3 hours
Starts: Kamakura, Japan
Trip Category: Classes & Workshops >> Art Classes
Explore Kamakura Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
In this course, you can experience Zen at an ancient Zen temple. You will be able to see Zen art, learn about Zen story paintings, and experience Zen meditation. This three-hour course is a beginner-friendly course that will teach you the Zen way of thinking in an accessible manner. Kamakura is the birthplace of Zen in Japan and is a popular tourist destination for foreigners. The venue is the Zen temple “Kigen-in,” which usually prohibits tourists from entering. Before and after the zazen experience, we will draw the circular Zen symbol “Enso,” which is a kind of Zen art. After this, we will perform Zen meditation (3 times) and listen to a commentary on the paintings of Zen and learn the philosophy of Zen by combining what you have learned and your Zen experience. When you draw an Enso for the second time, you will draw on our handmade paper, certified by UNESCO. You can experience the transformative power of Zen by comparing the two Enso.
Itinerary
This course lets you experience Zen at Kigen-in, a temple within the grounds of Engakuji temple that usually prohibits tourists from entering. It is in the immediate area of Kita-Kamakura Station. Kamakura, where the course will be held, is popular among Japanese tourists for its rich history and nature. It is only an hour by train from Tokyo Station. This temple is a Zen-style temple with a history of about 650 years. In the temple, there is a beautiful Japanese garden abundant in nature, and you can hear birds and insect sing. Natsume Soseki, the great Japanese novelist, visited Kigen-in and wrote about his experience in the novel “Mon (Gate).” Experience this unique and famous Zen temple in complete privacy. This course has also been chosen by singers, MBA players, and ambassadors to Japan.
Stop At:
• Engakuji, 409 Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa 247-0062, Japan
