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Zen Temple

Zen Mindfulness Retreat

Spring 2026

Thank you for your patience! We will set date and open registration for our next retreat in early 2026.

Enjoy a weekend to reconnect with yourself through mindfulness, rest and exploration.

Featured here in Condé Nast Traveller.

If you're curious about life in a working Zen Buddhist temple or are looking for ways to rebalance, we think you'll enjoy our retreat.

Structured with just the right amount of meditation, activities and free time to relax and explore the surroundings, this mindfulness retreat offers you something to bring back into your daily life.

—————

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.”
— Shunryu Suzuki
 

Retreat Schedule

 

Friday

 

Saturday

 

Sunday

 


by 7:00pm

Arrival & Welcome

–

7:30PM

Dinner

–

8:30PM

Opening Activity

&

Nighttime Meditation

–

10:00PM

Lights Out 


6:30am

Morning Zazen Meditation

–

8:00am

Breakfast

–

9:30AM

Tour of Temple

—

10:00Am

Forest Bathing

  –

 12:00PM

Lunch  

–

3:00pm

Mandala Workshop

–

6:00pm

Dinner

–

7:00pm

Onsen & Namahage Daiko

–

10:00pm

Lights Out


6:30am

Morning Zazen Meditation

–

8:00am

Breakfast

–

10:00am

Dharma Talk

–

11:00aM

Goodbyes

 

 
 

Meals & ACCOMMODATIONS

Five meals will be served, including two dinners, two breakfasts and one lunch. We set up a Western style buffet breakfast with breads, homemade scones, yogurt and granola, fruit tea and coffee and juices. Lunch and Dinner will be catered by a local Japanese restaurants using seasonally available ingredients. Snacks, water, tea and coffee are always available in tea room.

All sleeping rooms are tatami with futons. We have a shared private bathroom for showering; separate toilets and powder rooms. Fresh towels, and toiletries such as bath soap, shampoo and conditioner, hair dryer etc. will be provided. Meditation cushions and yoga mats will be provided. Once you are registered, we will send more information on travel, weather, packing suggestions, meals and activities.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION / PLEASE READ

The price of ¥98,000 is all inclusive of accommodation, amenities, meals and activities.  

Payment is required to confirm your spot on the retreat. The maximum number of participants is seven.

 

Keno and Gretchen Miura

Hi! We are your hosts for your Zen Retreat at Dairyuji!

Keno is the 38th head priest at Dairyuji after his father and grandfather. He studied Buddhism at Komazawa University and trained for an additional 3 years at Eiheiji Temple. Afterwards, he backpacked around the world for several years before returning to Oga to work at Dairyuji. He teaches goeka chanting, plays taiko drums and recently begun motor cross racing as a hobby.

Gretchen learned about zen and mindfulness meditation in college and met Keno while working in Japan. She obtained her Mindfulness Meditation teaching certification with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and her Grief Educator certification with David Kessler. She obtained a Masters Degree in Global Communications from Akita International University.

We invite participants to reconnect with themselves, slow down and discover the natural rhythms of a Zen temple at our engaging mindfulness retreats. We hope to create meaningful connections and a more compassionate world together.

We are looking forward to spending this special weekend together!

 

Directions

Traveling BY TRAIN

From Tokyo, take the Akita Komachi shinkansen bullet train to Akita Station (4 hrs). From Akita Station, take JR Oga Line to its final destination, Oga Station. (55 mins). We are happy to pick up participants from Oga Station!

Traveling by Plane

From Tokyo Haneda Airport, fly into Akita Airport (1 hr.). Take Akita Limousine Bus to Akita Station. (30 mins). From Akita Station take JR Oga Line to its final destination, Oga Station. (55 mins).

Traveling by Car

Follow google map directions to Dairyuji. Plenty of parking spots are available.