For travelers & professionals
Walk the path of Japan's ancient wisdom tradition
A guided half-day immersion in Kyoto's living contemplative practice — not as a museum exhibit, but as a working system that shaped the thinking of Japan's most effective leaders for over a millennium.
Guided by KMC's expert practitioners, this tour takes you through the living tradition of Japanese contemplative practice. You will leave not just with an experience, but with a framework for clarity and presence that travels with you.
The temple is located away from central Kyoto's crowds — a deliberate choice. The practice of stepping outside the noise to find stillness is not incidental to the tour. It is the tour.
The experience
What you'll do
Walking tour
Your guide leads you through the temple's gardens, unraveling the principles of Japan's contemplative tradition in English — how these practices were developed, who used them, and why they remain relevant today.
Zazen practice
We move to the meditation hall for guided seated meditation in the tradition Japan's leaders have practiced for centuries. An experienced practitioner guides the session with direct feedback for your practice.
Shojin Ryori lunch
The tour concludes with a traditional Japanese vegetarian meal and tea — a deliberate practice of intentional eating that is itself a form of mindfulness. A conversation about what you experienced and how to carry it forward.
Details
Practical information
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Location
- A Zen temple within 30 minutes of central Kyoto. Specific temple confirmed at time of reservation.
- Group size
- Minimum billing: 5 persons. Maximum: 20. Group bookings only — KMC does not aggregate individual requests into shared tours.
- Language
- English / Japanese
- Investment
- From $120 per person. Pricing is negotiable — please inquire.
- Includes
- Guide · Temple garden walk · Zazen session with head priest · Q&A · Shojin Ryori lunch · Tea and water
- Payment
- Bank transfer. Full payment required in advance.
- Cancellation
- 21+ days before: no charge · 20–4 days: 50% · 3 days to day-of or no-show: 100%
- Booking
- Minimum one month advance notice required.
Who this is for
Group bookings only
Kansho Tour is designed for corporate delegations, leadership cohorts, and organized travel groups visiting Kyoto. KMC does not aggregate individual visitors into shared tours — each booking is a private group experience.
No prior meditation experience required. Minimum 5 persons, maximum 20.
"Kansho Tour is integrated into National Geographic's luxury program for Japan. Our guests consistently describe it as the most meaningful hour of their trip."
Book your tour
Walk the path. Carry it forward.
Private group bookings only. Minimum one month advance notice. English-speaking guides.
Request a Group Booking