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Zen Temple

Mindfulness Retreat

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

No previous meditation experience needed.

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.

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Our Weekend Retreat is currently on hiatus. We intend to resume the retreats next year and appreciate your patience. We will update any new information accordingly.

“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

Travel day

Make your way to Oga Peninsula by one of the methods of transport outlined below, to arrive at the temple by 7:00pm.

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7:00PM

Arrival

Arrive at the temple, get acquainted with your new surroundings and meet your hosts Keno and Gretchen.

–

7:30 PM

Welcome

–

8:00PM

Nighttime Meditation

Learn the basics of meditation while overlooking lit-up zen garden. We will provide guidance for those who are new to meditation.

–

10:00PM

Lights Out 

We respectfully ask that lights are out by 10:00pm in the sleeping area. Anyone who would like to read or talk with friends may do so in separate room.


6:30am

Morning Zazen Meditation

–

7:30am

Breakfast

–

 9:30Am

Tour of the Temple & Free Time

  –

 12:00PM

Lunch  

–

2:00pm

Mindfulness Activity

Mandala

–

4:00pm

Tea break

–

6:00pm

Dinner

–

8:30pm

Mindfulness Meditation

Compassion & Metta

–

10:00pm

Lights Out


6:30am

Morning Zazen Meditation

–

7:30am

Breakfast

–

9:30am

Dharma Talk

Mindfulness of Emotions / RAIN meditation

–

11:00aM

Goodbyes

Share a moment to say our goodbyes to our new sanga (community). 

 
 

Meals & ACCOMMODATIONS

Four meals will be served, including one dinner, two breakfasts and one lunches. 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 will be provided.

 
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION / PLEASE READ

The price is all inclusive of accommodation, amenities, meals and activities. Once you arrive no money is necessary. 

You will need to show proof of Covid vaccination to join the retreat. We also request that you monitor your health and if you show any symptoms within 10 days of weekend, we ask that you reframe from joining (refund provided). Thank you for your cooperation.

Couples, families and friends can share rooms, otherwise participants will sleep in separate rooms.

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 the mindfulness retreat!

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 and recently has begun motor cross racing as a hobby.

Gretchen learned about zen and meditation in college at Santa Clara University where she studied Anthropology. She met Keno while working in Japan and they have been married for over 20 years. She obtained her Mindfulness Meditation teaching certification with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and her Grief Educator certification with David Kessler.

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 to Dairyuji

Traveling FROM Tokyo (or further) to AKITA

Fly into Akita Komachi Airport or take the Akita Komachi shinkansen bullet train to Akita Station.

From Akita Station take JR Oga Line to its final destination, Oga Station. (¥700 yen, 55 minutes)
From there, it is a ten minute walk or a 2 minute taxi ride to the temple.

 

from Akita KOMACHI Airport to OGA

Option 1: Take Akita Limousine Bus, which departs regularly for Akita Station. (¥900 yen, 30 minutes)

From Akita Station take JR Oga Line to its final destination, Oga Station. (¥700 yen, 55 minutes)
From there, it is a ten minute walk or a 2 minute taxi ride to the temple.

Option 2:

Take Akita Liner Taxi Van directly to Oga Station from Akita Komachi Airport. (¥3400, 80 minutes)

From there, it is a ten minute walk or a 2 minute taxi ride to the temple.

 

*We are happy to pick up our Mindfulness Retreat participants from Oga Station station if we are notified of your arrival time.