Buddhist Temple Retreat near Tokyo in Golden Week - May 3 to 5, 2024

We'll be holding a 3-day (2-night) Buddhist Retreat from May 3 to 5 (Friday to Sunday) 2024 at Shokakuji temple near Hanno City in Saitama Prefecture. Instructions and talks at the retreat will be in English. Anyone interested is invited to attend, and the retreat is suitable for beginners. The quiet, mountainous area around the temple is a pleasant setting for a brief taste of Buddhist life. The meals during the retreat are suitable for vegetarians.

Cost: 20,000 yen. The cost includes accommodation and meals during the retreat, but excludes the cost of transportation (approximately 1,400 yen one-way from Tokyo) to the temple. We ask for a ¥5,000 deposit to reserve a place.

What to Bring: The temple provide all meals and accommodation during the retreat. It's possible to take a bath during the retreat, but the temple ask everyone attending the retreat to bring their own bath towel. We recommend bringing comfortable clothing for practicing meditation.

Deadline: April 28. Please email me (Peter) (tokyozazen@gmail.com) for further information or to sign up for the retreat. You can also sign up for the retreat at a Saturday Zen meditation class I'll be holding on April 27 at Tokyo University Buddhists Association.

Transport to the Temple: Most of the participants will be traveling together from Tokyo to Hanno station on the Seibu-Ikebukuro line. We'll meet at 9.30 am on Friday morning (May 3rd) at the East Exit of Seibu-Ikebukuro station, and take a Seibu-Ikebukuro line train bound for Hanno station. After arriving at Hanno station, we'll take a bus to the temple. You're welcome to travel with this group. If you're going to Hanno station directly, you can meet with the group coming from Tokyo at Hanno station at around 10.40 am. Click here for directions to the meeting place at Seibu-Ikebukuro Station.

There's some more information about the retreat here.

See you there!