Zen Wanderer: Hidden Sacred Gardens of Japan

This five‑day itinerary is a pilgrimage to Japan’s most tranquil gardens and sacred landscapes. It’s tailored for travellers who long to slow down, immerse themselves in craftsmanship, and nourish body and soul with vegan temple cuisine.

Destination: Kyoto, Kanazawa & Hakone
Style: Mindful, exquisite, nature‑infused cultural journey

Day 1: Arrival in Kyoto & Welcome Ritual

Check‑In: Settle into a traditional ryokan with tatami floors, sliding shoji doors and a private onsen fed by geothermally heated spring water.

Tea Ceremony: Participate in an introductory matcha ceremony with a tea master who explains the Zen principles behind each movement.

Dinner: Savour kaiseki‑style shojin ryori—seasonal vegan dishes artfully arranged to reflect the five elements—served by monks in a quiet temple hall.

Day 2: Kyoto’s Secret Gardens & Artisanal Workshops

Pre‑Dawn: Experience Ryoan‑ji’s rock garden or Ginkaku‑ji’s moss garden before they open to the public. Contemplate the patterns raked into gravel as a guide shares Zen teachings.

Midday: Wander through Philosopher’s Path, lined with cherry trees and small shrines. Stop at a vegan café for matcha pancakes or tofu scrambles.

Afternoon: Visit a family‑run bamboo workshop to weave your own basket, or learn indigo dyeing at a studio using natural, non‑toxic processes.

Evening: Dine on yudofu (hot tofu stew) at a temple restaurant, then stroll through lantern‑lit streets back to your ryokan.

Day 3: Kanazawa’s Cultural Heart

Morning: Travel by bullet train to Kanazawa. Check into an eco‑friendly machiya townhouse updated with solar panels.

Garden Tour: Explore Kenroku‑en, one of Japan’s three great gardens, famous for its plum blossom trees and tranquil ponds.

Lunch: Enjoy a macrobiotic lunch at a farm‑to‑table eatery serving tempura vegetables and fermented side dishes.

Afternoon: Tour the Nagamachi samurai district and visit a gold leaf workshop where you can gild chopsticks to take home.

Evening: Try plant‑based versions of regional specialties like kagura sushi (pressed rice wrapped in bamboo leaves) at a local izakaya.

Day 4: Hakone’s Natural Beauty & Mindfulness

Morning: Depart for Hakone, known for its hot springs and mountain vistas. Check into a hillside retreat with views of Lake Ashi.

Forest Walk: Traverse the cedar‑lined Old Tokaido Road, once used by feudal lords, and pause at shrines hidden among the trees.

Lunch: Picnic with bento boxes filled with pickled vegetables, tofu cutlets and rice balls.

Afternoon: Visit the Hakone Open‑Air Museum to see sculptures framed by mountains, then soak in an onsen that uses geothermal energy.

Evening: Take part in a Zen calligraphy class where a monk teaches you to write kanji characters mindfully.

Day 5: Mount Fuji Vista & Farewell

Sunrise: Cruise across Lake Ashi on a quiet electric boat; on clear days, Mount Fuji reflects perfectly in the water.

Brunch: Experience a final vegan feast of soba noodles and tempura at a lakeside inn.

Departure: Transfer back to Tokyo or Osaka with a heart full of calm, hands full of handmade keepsakes, and a new appreciation for the harmony between nature and culture.

Are you enchanted by visions of moss gardens, bamboo weaving and steaming bowls of shojin ryori? Let’s make your Zen journey through Japan’s sacred spaces a reality.

Reach out to discuss itineraries, timing and bespoke touches; we’re here to ensure your mindful adventure is as seamless and soulful as you imagine. Our expertise in vegan cultural travel means every detail will be intentional, ethical and exquisitely crafted.