Solo Zen Foodie Tour
A peaceful zen retreat into the world of tea. Visit renowned, yet relatively unknown temples while engaging in experiences such as zen meditation, sutra tracing, tea ceremony and Japanese tea sampling.
This is also a foodie tour, thus we will keep you satisfied with either a Buddhist vegetarian meal served in a temple, or a high-end matcha course and delicious matcha sweets in a tranquil environment.
Uncover the flavors to be savored and the spaces that define Kyoto's tea narrative in the Solo Zen Foodie Tour.
Tour Duration: 6 Hours
What You'll Do
As this tour is tailored to your personal tastes, every moment is of relevance. Your tour guide caters to only you—allowing for deeply insightful cultural explanations and conversations on topics of interest.
Linger longer at the places that captivate, take an abbreviated approach to places of passing interest or make detours based on evolving curiosity—take a sip with us into the world of tea in Kyoto.
Depending on your interest, we will dine at restaurants specializing in tea based meals, walk the temples that played an integral role in formulating Japanese tea culture, partake in matcha or sencha tea ceremonies, visit modern tea houses and shop at the best places selling the finest Japanese teas.
What's Included
☆ Entrance fees to temples and shrines
☆ Meals at tea houses and restaurants as determined in the order confirmation
☆ Public transportation costs between places pre-determined in the order confirmation
*The set menu entitlement is for one order per person.
*Any last minute or mid-tour location change request by guests may incur extra fees
What's Not Included
☆ Any food or drink order from places not included in the order confirmation details
☆ Any purchases made by guests
Guest Requirements
☆ Guests are required to behave in a civil and respectable manner.
Activity Level
Activity Level: Moderate
☆ There will be walking at a leisurely pace with periods of standing when in route from tea house to tea house.
☆ Unless a Personal Chauffeur is bundled with this tour as an Add-On, we will travel by foot and use public transportation.
☆ A taxi can be taken at participant expense.
Accessibility Level
Terrain: A mix of flat and uneven surfaces; some stone paths and gentle inclines. Flat, comfortable, and secure shoes recommended.
Recommended Fitness: Ability to walk moderate distances and stand for periods of time without assistance
Dietary Restrictions: Will be taken into consideration during the initial consultation to allow appropriate recommendations on where to eat. Kindly inform us of any dietary restrictions by making a note in the booking reservation when booking so that we may curate a suitable experience.
How To Order
1: Adjust the quantity to match the number of tour attendees. For example, if four people are attending, then the quantity should be set to 4.
2: Select desired date.
3: Add tour to cart.
4: Add any desired Add-Ons to cart.
5: Check out to complete reservation. Our Concierge will contact you shortly thereafter to confirm logistics and answer any questions.
Once confirmed, you will be sent a payment link. Payment is due within 24 hours of the link being sent and payment constitutes a placed order.
Cancellation Policy
16 Days or More Prior To Tour or Experience Start Date: No Cancellation Fee Levied; 100% of Order Amount Returned
15 days to 11 days Prior To Tour or Experience Start Date: 40% of Order Amount Reserved As Cancellation Fee; 60% of Order Amount Returned
10 days to 6 days Prior To Tour or Experience Start Date: 80% of Order Amount Reserved As Cancellation Fee; 20% of Order Amount Returned
5 Days or Less Prior To Tour or Experience Start Date: 100% of Order Amount Reserved As Cancellation Fee; 0% of Order Amount Returned
For more details, reference our Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Pairs well with
Tour capacity is limited to two participants.
Select quantity (number of participants), date and time prior to adding to cart. The date and time is selectable from the "Select Date" button.
Solo Zen Foodie Tour
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible, within 24 hours on weekdays.
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History & Temple Food
Shojin-Ryori is Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, traditionally served at temples. Prepared in strict adherence to Buddhist concepts, it is an integral part of a monk’s training. As not to kill living creatures, no meat or fish is consumed, while food with strong aromas, termed gokun in Japanese, such as garlic and onions are also avoided. Seasoned with umami rich kelp and other vegetable based condiments, shojin-ryori can be quite flavorful.
As an option, you can select to dine at a temple or at a fine dining restaurant serving matcha inspired dishes.
Serene Tea Ceremony
Within the tea house, a ritualistic performance commences, where within the confined space, the sound of shuffling feet as hand made sweets are served, the smell of the tatami and matcha, and the silence in between water brewing and being ladled all seamlessly calm the senses and set the scene to receive a bowl of matcha, meticuliously prepared.
Be our guest and witness omotenashi, or the Japanese way of welcoming guests via prescribed gestures enacted during a serene tea ceremony.
Matcha Sweets
The birthplace of matcha has evolved with the times to serve matcha flavored sweets in a plethora of presentations. In this tour, we take you to the cream of the crop!
Sample Itinerary
9 AM
Meet Your Guide
Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting spot as provided in the tour confirmation e-mail. Alternatively, if you have selected the Personal Chauffeur option, you will be picked up at your accomodation.
9:15 AM
Arrive at First Zen Temple
We will begin the tour with an peaceful visit to a long-standing Zen temple.
9:45 AM
Zen Meditation
You will receive instruction on proper etiquette prior to being guided by a monk at the temple in a zen meditation session.
10:45 AM
Sutra Copying
You will receive instruction on the proper way to transcribe prior t to be given time to concentrate on your brush strokes..
11:50 AM
Serene Tea Ceremony
Enjoy either a matcha or sencha tea ceremony served in an auhentic tea house. All procedures and etiquette will be explained in detail.
1 PM
Temple Lunch & Visit
After moving to the second location, a zen temple with deep roots to tea culture, you will enjoy the Buddhist vegetarian cuisine prepared on the premises prior to leisurely strolling around the temple grounds.
3 PM
Matcha Sweets
This long-standing tea house is situated in a beautifully renovated home...
3:30 PM
Tea Shop Hopping
You will visit 2-3 iconic tea houses...
4:15 PM
Tea Tasting
You will visit a new tea shop changing the way Japanese tea is served and viewed. Enjoy a sampling of single-origin hand rolled sencha and other varieties of your choosing.
Pairs Well With
Personal Cameraman
Add a cameraman to capture those special moments. Photos will be sent via a link to upload shortly after the tour ends.