09:30, 10:30 · No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Tickets
Admission included
Booking
Instant confirmation · mobile ticket
Guidekin's take
Combine a Zen garden visit with zazen meditation and a traditional Shojin meal.
Venue entry, lunch, guiding and photos are included; meditation is seated on tatami or a backless chair, and leaning on walls or pillars is not permitted. 4.98 from 597 reviews at €99 per person for 4h 30m.
In our comparison: #4 of 17 in Samurai, Ninja & Craft Experiences, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).
Child prices by age band are shown at checkout. Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 8 November 2026.
Reviews
5.0
597 ratings Tripadvisor 570 · Viator 27
100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 597 of 597
Star breakdown of all 597 ratings
5 stars
585 · 98%
4 stars
12 · 2%
3 stars
0 · 0%
2 stars
0 · 0%
1 star
0 · 0%
Latest reviews
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Ratings collected from Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
Meeting point and route
Meeting point
Where
Outside of Tofukuji Station EXIT 2, Next to the Family Mart
［From Kyoto stn. to Tofukuji stn.］
JR line：You can use both rapid trains and local trains.
［From Shijyo keihan to Tofukuji station］
Keihan line : You can use sub-express, semi express and local trains. Please DO NOT USE express trains.
No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Operator
MagicalTrip Inc.; booking and payment are completed on Viator
About this tour, from the operator
Join a tour by MagicalTrip, proud winner of the Tripadvisor Best of the Best Award. Each experience is led by a MagicalTrip Certified Guide, professionally trained and carefully selected to ensure quality and authenticity.
What does Zen truly mean? On this tour, a local guide introduces you to the essence of Zen before meditation begins. Start by visiting a serene Zen garden, where you’ll learn how Zen principles are expressed through garden design and how to appreciate them in a calm, mindful way.
Next, visit Tofukuji Temple, one of Kyoto’s five great Zen temples with a history dating back to the 13th century. After exploring the grounds, continue to a smaller temple within Tofukuji dedicated to zazen practice, where you will take part in an authentic Zen meditation experience.
Walking, children and accessibility
The operator's own notes, grouped by topic. Nothing here is added by Guidekin.
Accessibility
Strollers OK
Public transportation options are available nearby
The itinerary for this tour includes some locations that are not accessible by a wheelchair or stroller.
This activity ends near Chishaku-in Temple
The itinerary states we will return to the meeting point, but the plan is to disband at the last shop.
Leaning against walls or pillars is not permitted.
During the zazen experience, you will sit for about one hour either on a chair without a backrest placed on tatami mats or directly on the tatami mats.
Please refer to the tour photos for more details.
Those who booked a tour starting from 10:45, the lunch time would be 14:15 (after meditation experience), so please have enough breakfast or brunch.
Out of respect for other guests and to ensure the best tour for everyone, we must start the tour on time.
You will not be able to join the tour, get refund or rescheduled if you are late for the tour and missed the group.
Since other guests will be participating in the zazen experience, private conversations are generally prohibited. During this time, you will be given materials that can be read silently.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee allergy-free or cater to dietary restrictions as the food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to MagicalTrip. Additionally, there may be instances where substitutions are not possible at certain stops; however, we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.
Summer in Japan is very hot and humid, so we recommend that you bring water and wear a hat to prevent heat stroke.
Anyone over 12 years can join this tour
For any dietary request, please request in advance (by the day before). We are unable to accept any request on the day of the tour.
In winter, temple floors can be quite cold, so wearing thick socks is recommended.
Good to know
Food included Shojin traditional meal, Lunch
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days: Full refund
0-1 days: No refund
Compared with other Samurai, Ninja & Craft Experiences
Tour
Price
Duration
Rating
Group
This tour · #4 of 17
€99
4h 30m
4.98 (597)
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shared
Private Tea Ceremony and Sake Tasting in Kyoto Samurai House
€104
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5.0 (191)
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Become a Samurai Movie Star in Kyoto by Filming with a Real Actor
€115
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Ranked #4 of 17 in Samurai, Ninja & Craft Experiences by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €90 to €139, median €104; typical length 2h. 4 of 17 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 17 Samurai, Ninja & Craft Experiences