Stemming from our experience with the Gardens of Kyoto Tours, now in their tenth year, we are inviting those who would like to include an element of spiritual practice with their visit to Kyoto

As with the Garden Tours, there will be 5 days of schedule, with evenings and the other days free for exploring Kyoto and the rest of Japan  Orientation is at our mid-range hotel in Central Kyoto, appreciated by a wide variety of Garden Tour clients over the years

The first four days will start with the Meditation session at 9.00 am and on the first day there will be an introductory tour of Myoshinji  On the last day, we will close with the Meditation session, followed by a moment of reflection within the group

Myoshinji, one of the oldest and most serene of Kyoto’s Zen Temples follows the inclusive Rinzai Zen tradition of engaging with the world  The meditation sessions will be led by the resident priest,
Rev Taka Kawakami - all are welcome  On occasion, the schedule may have to be flexed to fit in with his Temple duties

There is always a certain amount of walking between gardens in Kyoto, but in this instance, we will adopt a more specific approach  The walking phase will last for about an hour, varying with the weather and the process of enquiry

The world famous Moss Garden, Kokedera, and Rock Garden, Ryoanji will be included in the itinerary of gardens visited  The other gardens selected will be with an eye to maintaining the overall theme of this visit to Japan

Robert Ketchell is fully immersed in the world of Japanese Gardens and their deeper purposes  He is ideally qualified to conduct the Meditation and Garden Tour



Please see the Gardens of Kyoto page for further practical information on transfers, hotel rates, placing of deposits, Guide Fees etc

On the relevant days, we will meet in the hotel lobby at 7.45 am, returning to the hotel between 4.00-5.00 pm  We will move around the different parts of Kyoto by bus, tram, subway and the occasional taxi

There will be a Myoshinji Temple Fee of Y7,000 per person to be submitted to Robert Ketchell at the start of the Tour

Broadly speaking, after Flight, Hotel, World Spirit and Temple expenses, Tour costs on site should vary between Y22,500 - Y27,500 ( incl. return train and taxi transfers Osaka Kansai Airport / Hotel, local transport around Kyoto and garden entrance fees - but excl. food and personal expenses )

Unless on a longer trip to Japan, all international flights should arrive at and depart from Osaka Kansai Airport

Orientation with Robert Ketchell will be in the hotel lobby on the evening of Friday November 19, 2010