Zen Meditation in the Shimanto River
四万十川水中禅 （Shimantogawa Suichuu Zen）
Be truly at one with yourself (and the river!) during this unique meditation experience
Yes, this one-of-a-kind experience provided by Iwamoto-ji Temple is exactly what you think it is: meditating under the tutelage of a Zen Buddhist priest while you sit in the middle of the cool, pure Shimanto River!
Available from May to September, this is a chance to truly refresh both your mind and body. Allow the gentle flow of the river around your legs to quiet your mind, so that you can focus deeper within. The sounds of the water, birds and wind will bring you back to center. As the temple only accepts one group per day for this soothing session, you will have the priest’s full attention and assistance in taking your first steps in Zen meditation.
You can wear a bathing suit or, if you prefer a bit more coverage, the staff will provide you with a free samue, the loose everyday work clothes priests wear when doing chores. Once your session is done, you will have access to a nice warm bath in the shukubo (temple lodging) to warm up. On really chilly days, you might want to book the delightful “temple sauna” experience as well, or enjoy a plate of tasty ginger curry at the temple’s cafe.
Of course, safety comes first, so in rainy weather the meditation experience will be held in one of the temple’s halls. If you are concerned about the cleanliness of the water, put your mind at rest. The Shimanto River is one of the cleanest rivers in Japan, along with the Niyodo River that also happens to be in Kochi Prefecture.
Available from May to September, this is a chance to truly refresh both your mind and body. Allow the gentle flow of the river around your legs to quiet your mind, so that you can focus deeper within. The sounds of the water, birds and wind will bring you back to center. As the temple only accepts one group per day for this soothing session, you will have the priest’s full attention and assistance in taking your first steps in Zen meditation.
You can wear a bathing suit or, if you prefer a bit more coverage, the staff will provide you with a free samue, the loose everyday work clothes priests wear when doing chores. Once your session is done, you will have access to a nice warm bath in the shukubo (temple lodging) to warm up. On really chilly days, you might want to book the delightful “temple sauna” experience as well, or enjoy a plate of tasty ginger curry at the temple’s cafe.
Of course, safety comes first, so in rainy weather the meditation experience will be held in one of the temple’s halls. If you are concerned about the cleanliness of the water, put your mind at rest. The Shimanto River is one of the cleanest rivers in Japan, along with the Niyodo River that also happens to be in Kochi Prefecture.
- Regions
- West
| Address | 高知県高岡郡四万十町茂串町3-13 （3-13, Shigekushi Cho, Shimanto Town, Takaoka Gun, Kochi Prefecture, Japan） |
|---|---|
| Telephone Number | 0880-22-0376 |
| atshimanto@gmail.com | |
| Open | From May to September 9:00-13:00 |
| Price | ●12 years old and over 9,100 yen ●6 years old and under 12 years old 5,300 yen * Under 6 years old cannot participate |
| Directions | ●About 10 min drive from Shimantocho-chuo IC on Kochi Expressway ●About 10 min walk from JR Kubokawa Station |
| Website | Website |
| Map Code | 362 136 525*58 |
| Online Reservation |
Official website for reservation |
| Remarks | ●Please bring your own swimsuit. You can rent Samue (Monk's working uniform) and towels for free. ●Limited to one group per day (Capacity of 1～4 persons) |
