About us
This group is for people who like self-improvement, adventure, communication and meeting new people. This meetup group is about creating connections with yourself and with one another. Members can join to challenge and improve their own abilities and social skills.
What we do: sit in front of another person, whom you often don’t even know, and look that person in their eyes. That’s all. It’s that simple, yet it can achieve so much. In Japan, a country where eye contact is usually avoided, this is especially powerful!
Expect to leave with many new friends and a sense of deep connections with others. The events are open to anyone. Usually, there are drinks and snacks available and you are free to network and speak with anyone you like. Here's an example of what it's like.
More about the group:
What is eye-gazing?
Eye-gazing has been practiced for thousands of years in Buddhist, Tantric and Sufi traditions. In a world where we're often rushing and don't stop to look each other in the eye, it's a simple yet powerful way to increase your connection with yourself and others.
Who practices it?
Anyone! This isn't for couples or dating - it's about human connection.
What's the benefit?
Studies have found that gazing at someone for a few minutes is enough to noticeably increase intimacy, empathy and connection. Oxytocin goes up. Your heart rate slows. Your blinking actually starts to sync.
Eye Gazing Tokyo is hosted by Tokyo-based blogger and entrepreneur, Misha Yurchenko, and is part of the Higher Consciousness Japan network, where we host events related to meditation, yoga, and more, with the goal of elevating our awareness and getting a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other. And also, just to have fun!
Check out a video from our past event here! --> Eye Contact Tokyo Even Nov 2022 @ Sangubashi
Come join our Online Community on Discord to connect with like-minded people and discuss meditation, yoga, breathwork, fasting, etc.! We’ll also do some online meditations in the group :) —> https://discord.gg/Z64MY3wFYe
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⚠️ An important note about No-Shows: We have a limited number of space for this event. If you can’t attend, please cancel your RSVP so that others can join. Repeated no-shows will result in you getting kicked out of the group.
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To stay updated for more events, retreats and hear about people's meditation experiences, join our biweekly newsletter: Tokyo Mindfulness Newsletter
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Upcoming events
2
- ¥35,000.00
You're going to this event The Art of Doing Nothing (Yamanashi Weekend Retreat)
Shinjuku, 〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿３丁目１５−１２,, Tokyo, JPA weekend of digital detox + mindful connection at Kakurinbo Temple
Come join us for a weekend digital detox and mindfulness retreat at Kakurinbo Temple, tucked in the foothills of Mt. Minobu in Yamanashi. This is a simple retreat space to slow down, unplug, and reconnect with yourself… and with other humans.
The practices are straightforward and deeply relational. We’ll do simple mindfulness meditation (the kind you can actually use when your mind is busy), mindful movement to help the body unwind, and a few of my favorite connection practices: eye contact, mirroring, and authentic-connection style conversations. The emphasis is on learning how to be with another person without trying to fix them, impress them, or figure them out, and noticing what opens up when you just listen, feel, and let things be.
It’s not a silent retreat, and it’s not therapy. It’s a reset. A weekend of nature, temple atmosphere, onsen, good food, quiet evenings, and practices you can actually bring home. If you’ve been feeling a bit overstimulated, scattered, or alone inside your own head lately, I’d love to have you with us.
🔍 Details
- Dates: Sat Feb 7 – Sun Feb 8
- Location: Kakurinbo Temple (Yamanashi, near Mt. Minobu)
- Open to: all levels (beginner friendly)
- Includes: roundtrip bus from Shinjuku + breakfast & dinner
- RSVP deadline: Jan 30 (I need to book the bus tickets)
✅ What’s included
- One-night stay at Kakurinbo Temple (shared rooms, spacious tatami)
- Roundtrip bus ticket Shinjuku ⇄ Yamanashi
- Temple meals: breakfast + dinner (vegetarian tofu dishes, including yuba/tofu skin)
- Guided mindfulness meditations + mindful movement
- Group / pair practices (eye contact, mirroring, authentic connection)
- A short hike and outdoor practice
- Morning temple visit / chanting at Kuonji (optional but highly recommended)
- Onsen time
❌ What’s not included
- Lunch on both days (we’ll go to a nearby café with vegetarian + meat options)
- Extra snacks/drinks/ice cream, etc.
📵 Digital Detox
Phones will be handed in on Saturday and returned on Sunday afternoon. I’ll keep phones accessible if there’s a genuine emergency. The point is to give your nervous system a break from constant input and let your attention come back to something simple: breath, body, nature, and conversation.
💴 Price and RSVP / payment
I’m offering two rates to keep this accessible. If you can pay the supporter rate, it helps me keep community spots available.
👉 Confirm your RSVP and pay via credit card or bank transfer above.
🚌 Getting there
We’ll take the 7:45am bus from Busta Shinjuku (Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal) on Saturday morning. Please arrive by 7:20am so we can find each other and get settled without rushing. We’ll arrive around midday, have lunch nearby, and then head into the temple for the afternoon program. On Sunday, we’ll leave by bus at 3:30pm and arrive back in Shinjuku around 7:30pm.
🎒 What to bring:
Bring warm layers (heat-tech/thermals, sweater/fleece), a warm jacket, and thick socks. Gloves and a hat are a good idea too. For the hike, bring comfortable walking shoes (trail shoes or sneakers with good grip) and a small daypack if you have one. Also bring comfortable clothes for meditation and mindful movement, plus a water bottle.
👋 About Your Mindfulness Guide
Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher with over ten years of meditation experience. He has spent time on retreat around the world and practiced a range of techniques. After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he founded Tokyo Mindfulness and is dedicated to helping others break free from themselves. He takes an integrated and practical approach combining meditation, breathwork, and nervous system healing to help people let go of the ego, release old habit patterns and find inner freedom. He is the author of several books and lives in Nerima with his family.
Join our Substack community to get updated with new events, talk to other members and get access to exclusive content.1 attendee - ¥500.00
Eye Contact Experiment @ YCC, Sunday 6pm-8pm
Yoyogihachiman Community Center, 5-chōme-1-15 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo, JPMake eye contact with a stranger and discover what happens! (日本語は英語の後で)
On Sunday Feb 15th, we’ll meet up for another round of eye contact. This time, at Yoyogi Hachiman Community center, just a few minutes walk from the park.
Breathe, connect and enjoy eye contact. Yep, that's it!
Our first few events were awesome with several people joining from all walks of life. You can see a video of it here.
How it works:
- You simply look people in the eyes for an extended amount of time, about 5 minutes. You don't talk or make gestures, you simply perceive and discover what happens.
- After the round is finished, you can speak to your partner and share your experience. Many people make friends this way and forge strong connections. We'll switch partners and do this for 5 rounds total.
- After the event, we'll have a discussion circle for 20-30 minutes in the space to mingle and talk. A lot of strong emotions can come up, so it can be very helpful to share what you experienced. For those who want to continue discussing, we usually grab lunch after :)
Experiences vary and you'll discover for yourself what it means. It can be awkward at first until you settle into it; and then it can be exciting, frightening, exhilarating. But I can guarantee that it'll be a unique experience for you.
Location: YOYOGI HACHIMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, tatami room. https://maps.app.goo.gl/QX7hEMzhV27iHDdb8.
Doors open at 6pm and the event starts at 6:15pm. Please arrive on time to sign in.
Optional: Hang out afterwards for dinner or snacks!
Entry fee: The event is 500 yen to cover the cost of the space and allows me to keep running these events. Please bring cash on the day.
RSVP: Please only RSVP if you plan to attend! If you can't make it, please remove your RSVP so others can join. More than 3 no-shows for our group will result in you being kicked out.
Are you ready to try it out? Feel free to come join us, both for newbies and for experienced folks. 🙌
Every time I've done this, I've seen new people make strong connections. Something you have to experience for yourself! You can read more about eye contact and eye gazing here.
For any questions, feel free to reach out! I'll be glad to answer.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Misha 😀✌️
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About your host:
Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher (MMTCP with Jack Korfnfield and Tara Brach) with over ten years of meditation experience.After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he founded Tokyo Mindfulness and is dedicated to helping others break free from themselves.
He has spent time on retreat around the world and practiced a range of techniques. He takes an integrated and practical approach combining meditation, breathwork, and nervous system healing to help people let go of the ego, release old habit patterns and find inner freedom.
He is the author of several books and lives in Shibuya with his family. You can follow him on Substack here and book a free coaching call here.
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## イベント詳細
初対面の人たちとアイコンタクトを取ってみませんか？
2月18日の日曜日、あのアイコンタクトイベントが帰ってきます。今回の開催場所は屋内で、代々木八幡コミュニティセンターです😊深呼吸をして、人と人との繋がりを感じ、アイコンタクトを楽しんでください。
これまでの開催はとても好評で、さまざまなバックグラウンドを持った多くの人たちに参加いただきました。イベントの様子はこちらの動画で見ることができます。
アイコンタクトのやり方：
- 相手の目を長い時間（約5分）見つめるだけ。話をしたり、身振りで何かを伝えたりはしません。ただ目を見つめて、何が起こるか観察してみてください。
- 時間が終わったら、アイコンタクトを取った相手と話をして、どんな経験だったかシェアしましょう。強い繋がりを感じて友達になる人も少なくなりません。その後パートナーを変えて、計5ラウンド行います。
- イベント後、グループに分かれて20〜30分話し合ったり交流できる時間を設けています。アイコンタクトを通してたくさんの強い感情が心の中に湧き出てくることもあるため、その経験をシェアすることが役立つはずです。もっと話したい場合は、そのまますぐ近くの代々木公園に移動することもできます。
どのような経験となるかは人によって異なります。みなさんにとってどんな意味を持つことになるかは実際に体験しないとわかりません。はじめは居心地が悪く感じるかもしれません。ワクワクしたり、不安になったり、元気が出てきたり…。どんな気持ちになるにせよ、初めてのユニークな経験になることだけは間違いありません。
**場所：**代々木八幡コミュニティセンターのスタジオ4*5 https://maps.app.goo.gl/QX7hEMzhV27iHDdb8
**参加費：**会場費をカバーするため、500円の参加費をお願いしています
参加する場合のみRSVPしてください。予定が変わった場合は、他の人が参加できるように必ず「不参加」に変更してください。無断での不参加が3回あった場合は、グループから除外させていただきます。
初めての方も、すでに経験済みの方も、ご参加お待ちしています 🙌13 attendees
Past events
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