Enjoy mindful cooking at a temple with a Buddhist monk masterchef

Details

• Private experience

• Location: Minato, Tokyo

• 3 hours

• 2 people min, 5 people max. Solo guests may book at the price of 2 participants

• Offered in Japanese, with friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in English
  (French/German/Spanish interpretation may be available upon request)

Meditative nourishment

Bring balance to your body, and find Zen with your mind, through the plant-based cuisine of Buddhist monks. Buddhist beliefs discourage killing animals, so neither fish nor meat are consumed, and in most cases, traditional Buddhist cuisine is vegan. Adhering to mindfulness throughout the process, ingredients are treated with care and each part is incorporated into the meal. In shojin ryori, pungent flavors like garlic or onion are avoided. While many of these rules might make temple food sound bland, it is far from it: shojin ryori follows the “rule of five”, where every meal must offer five colours (green, yellow, red, black, and white) and offer five flavors (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami). These combinations offer nutritional balance and a variety of flavours by using seasonal ingredients. Learn how to prepare and share a meal with a Buddhist monk while learning first-hand about the philosophy behind shojin ryori.  

What you’ll do

Tour the temple and learn about the tradition of Shojin Ryori. Then cook and enjoy two different dishes which will be accompanied by handmade pickles, miso soup, and clay-pot cooked rice, inside the temple grounds.

Who can attend

Children must be 7+
Please note that our menu contains gluten and we are currently unable to customize a gluten-free menu.

Vegetarian/vegan dietary needs can be accommodated.

Please inform us of any dietary requirements at checkout, including allergies.

Availability

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday
Session 1 (10:30 - 13:30)

Access

25 minutes from Tokyo Station.

Cancellation Policy

Please make your booking at least 3 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
* A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.