Kinryuji sits in southern Asakusa, where the town's presence is still close but its noise has thinned. Rev. Taijun Namiki — head priest of this Rinzai, Myōshinji-branch temple — speaks of Zen less as a technique for the self than as a practice for loosening the mind that keeps comparing.
Below this page is a short Behind the Scenes video, a softer-register glimpse of the temple. For viewers new to Kinryuji, the YouTube channel carries three fuller films first: one on the cultural history of Rinzai Zen, one on Rev. Namiki himself, and one on the experience inside the hall. We'd gently suggest watching those before returning to the video here.
Interested in a Deeper Encounter?
How it works
Each visit begins with a conversation. We hear what brings you to Kinryuji, what you'd like to leave room for, and what is not essential.
From there we draft a proposal, adjust it together over one or more exchanges, and confirm the shape of the day before anything is set. The experience is not a fixed product; its weight, length, and rhythm are decided in dialogue.
What you’ll get
More than a sitting practice, this is time inside a working Rinzai temple in Asakusa. You'll meet the person behind the priesthood, the wooden main hall and its natural light, the language of Zen as Rev. Namiki teaches it, and a closing moment with matcha and a seasonal wagashi. What stays with you is less a procedure than the layering — of place, history, thought, and quiet attention.
Good fit / Not a fit
A good fit for
- Visitors curious about Rinzai Zen as it is actually practiced, beyond the framings of meditation or mindfulness
- Travelers who value place, presence, and slower conversation over checklist sightseeing
- Small groups or individuals interested in spending time inside a working temple in Asakusa
- Those open to the experience taking shape through prior dialogue, rather than following a fixed itinerary
Likely not a fit for
- Visitors looking for a quick photo stop or a brief cultural break between other plans
- Those expecting a pre-packaged tour with no preparatory hearing
- Visits whose terms would require significant disruption to the temple's daily practice or to its danka community
Practical
- Timing: To be confirmed based on availability and proposal
- Group size: To be confirmed
- Language: English or Japanese
- Area: Taito Ward, Asakusa (south side), Tokyo — short walk from Kuramae Station
- Lead time: Advance coordination recommended; exact lead time to be confirmed
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Format：Final format is adjusted after hearing and proposal. Experience contents are not treated as fully fixed at this stage
What’s decided later
After the initial hearing, the structure of the day takes shape together with you — the balance between explanation and silence, the depth of the dharma talk, how questions are held, and how the closing tea is offered. While Rev. Namiki is at the center of the conversation here, please note that within a wider Bespoke Discovery itinerary he may, depending on the route, sit alongside other encounters in Asakusa rather than form the entire focus of the day. What stays consistent is the underlying intention; what is shaped is the form.
House rules
- Visits proceed at a pace that respects the temple's daily practice and the community surrounding it in Asakusa.
- Kinryuji remains a working temple. It is not offered as a venue for purely commercial photography, filming, or branded shoots; any such elements need prior discussion and agreement.
- We do not accept bookings made on the premise of negotiating prices downward. The offering is calibrated to the care, time, and preparation it requires.
- Memorial services, funerals, and seasonal observances take priority in scheduling, and certain dates may be unavailable on that basis.
- Phones and cameras are welcomed selectively; specifics are agreed in the proposal stage rather than decided on the day.
Conversation and cultural engagement remain central to the experience. However, depending on the guest’s interests and desired depth of engagement, the artisan featured on this page is not necessarily guaranteed to be the central focus of the tour in every case.
