Experience authentic Zen temple life in rural Japan
Book Your Stay
¥10,800 (Japanese yen) per night / per guest all-inclusive includes 2 meals, meditation practice, and most on-site activities.
Request and reserve your preferred dates now: ShoganjiZenRetreat@gmail.com
Please read this entire page carefully before booking your stay. We also recommend you familiarize yourself with the entire website. Most topics and common questions are covered somewhere within the website. This helps us a lot! Thank you!
Use our convenient payment chart to determine the total cost, deposit amount. and the balance due, based on the number of nights stay.
Minimum 5 night stay. Maximum 30 night stay. Rates include food, lodging, and all on-site activities! Prices noted are exact. There are no additional fees or taxes.
Important: The retreat and temple is maintained primarily by guests. You are helping to take care of a 600+ year old historical temple site.You are expected to help out and participate in indoor and outdoor temple maintenance, gardening, and meal preparation and cleanup. Communal participation in meal preparation and clean-up is absolutely essential. Please leave every space a little cleaner than you found it!
Be sure to select the correct number of nights once you have entered the PayPal system. Use our convenient payment chart to determine the total cost, deposit amount, and the balance due, based on the number of nights stay.
Complete the Guest Application Questionnaire below including your pre-approved dates. This can either be copied and pasted into an email or typed out in any format and sent to us at shoganjizenretreat@gmail.com.
Once Your Stay is Confirmed please read and print the following page: Arrival Day at the Retreat. It is also a good idea to read: Guest Orientation. The balance due should be paid directly to the retreat in cash, in person, at the time of your stay. Please do not pay it in advance. Use our convenient payment chart to determine the deposit amount based on the number of nights stay.
Complete the application below once for each group, family, or individual guest. Please email us the completed questionnaire at shoganjizenretreat@gmail.com. We will get back to you, usually within 24 hours, and confirm your stay. Required fields are marked in bold.
1. Guest Names: 2. Number of guests: 3. Number of rooms preferred (if more than one guest): 4. Checkin Date: 5. Checkout date: 6. Number of nights stay: 7. Country of Residence: 8. Nationality (passport): 9. Passport Number(s): 10. Age: 11. Telephone number(s) (at home, intl cellphone, or in Japan: 12. Emergency contact (friend, partner, family member): 13. Gender: 14. Occupation: 15. Interests / hobbies: 16. Languages spoken: 17. Previous experience with meditation: 18. Personal expectations from your stay: 19. Special Food or Dietary Requirements / Preferences: 20. Relevant Medical Conditions:
5 night minimum stay requirement for all guests. *
30-night maximum stay. Longer stays considered upon request. *
OFF-Site Activities are optional and may involve additional cost. *
Payments of the remaining balance (after deposit) are requested to be paid in cash at the retreat. *
Rates shown are for ONE GUEST, not one room. There is no reduction in cost if you choose to share a room. *
* For additional explanation of these points see our FAQ section.
Rooms are always private in the sense that we never put strangers together in the same room. Although you do have the option to share a room with your travel companion(s) if you choose. Bathrooms are shared, however.
Seasonal Considerations are discussed at the bottom of this page. Be aware of these before you book!
Travel VISA Assistance? Citizens of certain countries may need a formal invitation and other assistance to obtain a travel visa to visit Japan. Learn more HERE.
By booking a stay at Shōganji Zen Retreat and choosing to stay at Shōganji Zen Retreat you agree to and consent to the Zen Retreat Waiver of Liability.
Deposits and cancellation policy: Deposits are non-refundable and are officially limited to the dates confirmed at the time of the deposit payment and original booking. Unofficially, however, we are more flexible and will absolutely do our best to make reasonable date changes for you, free of charge, and transfer your deposit payment to alternate dates of stay; provided that the new dates are available, and that you have informed us of your cancellation within a reasonable time so that we are able to book another guest for the canceled dates. We try our best to accommodate necessary changes to your itinerary or modifications to your travel plans, however, we cannot guarantee that your preferred dates, should you request a change, will be available. Deposits are completely non-refundable under any circumstances. Deposits are very transferrable however; to different dates of stay or even to different guests or other retreats we are affiliated with. We try to be as flexible and generous as possible with this, however, once you have created a booking, the deposit payment itself is never refundable. Deposit transferability and booking flexibility is handled on an individual case by case basis.
I’m Pierre Black, Zen Retreat’s Online Coordinator. I’m a naturopath and healer, and have spent a total of 2 years living at Shōganji.
When I’m at Zen Retreat, I teach yoga, cook, and help facilitate the Shōganji Zen Retreat experience for guests.
If you would like more detailed, personalized live assistance toward planning your trip, meditation coaching, or additional preparation for your time at Zen Retreat, we can arrange a live video session together. Click Here to schedule your live video session.
I’m always here ‘virtually’ to help you navigate this very special Japanese cultural experience. All questions and booking inquiries can be directed to ShoganjiZenRetreat@gmail.com
I’m Pierre Black, Zen Retreat’s Online Coordinator. I’m a naturopath and healer, and have spent a total of 3 years living at Shōganji.
If you would like more detailed, personalized live assistance toward planning your trip, meditation coaching, or additional preparation for your time at Zen Retreat, we can arrange a live video session together. Click Here to schedule your live video session.
I’m always here ‘virtually’ to help you navigate this very special Japanese cultural experience. All questions and booking inquiries can be directed to ShoganjiZenRetreat@gmail.com
Shōganji Zen Retreat 