[Spring 2026] Enjoy a special zazen experience at Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage Site in the Arashiyama area.

2026.01.16

Tenryuji Temple is located in Arashiyama, one of Kyoto's most popular tourist destinations. As a Zen temple where people can attain enlightenment through zazen, it regularly holds zazen experience sessions. Among them, the zazen experience tour hosted by Kyoto Brighton Hotel is a bit special! The reason for its popularity is...

• Table of Contents
• Tenryu-ji Temple is a World Heritage Site and a famous temple representing Arashiyama.
• An early morning experience exclusively for hotel guests.
• All you can hear is the chirping of birds.
• After zazen, you can take a leisurely stroll around the grounds.

Book a plan for Tenryuji Temple's early morning zazen experience

Tenryu-ji Temple is a World Heritage Site and a famous temple representing Arashiyama.

Tenryu-ji Temple is one of the five Zen temples representing Kyoto, known as the Kyoto Gozan. It has a vast area and has many attractions, including beautiful gardens and a huge painting of a dragon in the clouds. In particular, the garden, which has the Arashiyama scenery and retains the appearance of when it was created about 700 years ago, is world-famous, and many tourists visit to see the scenery that changes with the seasons.

An early morning experience exclusively for hotel guests.

Tenryu-ji Temple is crowded with people during the day, but we will guide only about 20 people. Before the gates open to the public, you will spend a quiet moment with only the guests staying at Kyoto Brighton Hotel. We will arrive at Tenryu-ji Temple just after 7:00 in the morning, and the tour will start with a zazen experience. This is also special, as you will be able to practice zazen in front of a beautiful garden that has been designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty! Although zazen is performed in a special place where actual monks train, you will receive a thorough lecture, so even beginners can join us with confidence.

All you can hear is the chirping of birds.

A beautiful garden with no one around. In the clear air that only early morning can provide, you can hear the chirping of birds and the sound of water. When you are surrounded by silence, where you can even hear the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, it feels like the tension in your shoulders naturally relaxes. The comfort of becoming "nothing" as you become one with the garden and nature is a blissful time that cannot be put into words. You can experience the charm of zazen to the fullest.

After zazen, you can take a leisurely stroll around the grounds.

There is plenty of free time to stroll around, taking photos of the beautiful gardens from the temples, and spending your time however you like. After returning to the hotel, the long-awaited breakfast begins. Start your day with a refreshing and fulfilling "morning activity." Please check the Kyoto Brighton official website for the dates of the event.

Make a reservation through the Kyoto Brighton Hotel official website