Takayama Rice Ball Making and Meditation at Zenkoji Temple

Meditation, then hands-on cooking in a temple kitchen

A two-hour class at Takayama Zenkoji Temple combines guided meditation for beginners with hands-on onigiri and miso soup making in the temple kitchen, led by the chief priest Kaiji in English or Japanese. The meditation includes breathing techniques and detailed instruction. Afterward you cook with local ingredients and eat the rice balls and soup you've made. Children are welcome from age seven, and all meals are vegetarian.

The experience

The class starts with meditation inside Takayama Zenkoji Temple. The chief priest Kaiji guides you through a session built for beginners, teaching breathing techniques and the fundamentals of finding mental clarity. The instruction is tailored to your experience level, so you're not following along with experienced practitioners. The session is built around what you need to learn.

After meditation, you move to the temple kitchen for the hands-on part. You learn to make onigiri (rice balls) and miso soup using local ingredients, working through the steps with guidance. The sequence matters: eating the food you've just made after meditation creates a different kind of calm than eating it separately. Both the rice balls and soup are vegetarian, and the whole experience stays grounded in local culinary tradition rather than a cooking demonstration you watch.

Public transportation reaches the temple, so you don't need a car or a separate transfer to get there. The class runs two hours total, which fits into a morning or afternoon without consuming your whole day in Takayama.

What’s included

• Live guide in English or Japanese.
• instruction in making onigiri and miso soup.
• all ingredients and cooking in the temple kitchen.
• the rice balls and soup you make.
• vegetarian meals.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (13 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 90 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 5 · max 2 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by 高山善光寺

Is this one for you?The class is accessible by public transportation, so it works whether you're staying elsewhere in Takayama or traveling without a car. The two-hour format fits into a morning or afternoon without dominating your day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

Can I do this class if I've never meditated before?

Yes. The chief priest Kaiji teaches meditation for beginners, with detailed explanations of breathing techniques and how to find mental clarity. The session is tailored to your experience level.

What exactly do I make and eat during the cooking part?

You make onigiri (rice balls) and miso soup using local ingredients in the temple kitchen, then eat both after you've finished cooking them.

Are the meals vegetarian?

Yes. All meals provided during the class contain no meat or fish, making them suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

How do I get to Takayama Zenkoji Temple if I don't have a car?

Public transportation options are available near the temple, so you can reach it without private transport or a separate transfer booking.