OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS
Horakuan now offers ZENLIFE Challenge, a unique online program on how to put Zen teachings into practice in our daily life.
The ZENLIFE Challenge can be done individually from home, but it also offers a personal talk over Skype to answer any questions and give advice on the program.
Please see details here: Zen Life Challenge PDF
Next Retreats:
ZEN RETREATS: OCT. 6 – 9 (full)
MEDITATION & CREATIVITY:
SILENT RETREATS: NOV. 6 – 9 (full)
Solo Retreat: Possible from April onward, please contact horakuan@gmail.com
NEW! Body&Soul Zen Retreat: Sept. 22 – 24 (full)
Highlights:
Sacred Purification Ceremony, Hot Stone & Oil Massage, Sound Meditation, Meditative Creativity, Zen Life Lessons, Vegetarian Temple Cuisine and more.
Single rooms ¥38.000
Before booking any program, please check our calendar for dates.
Minimum of participants: 2, maximum 5 or 8, depending on the retreat.
A retreat is a time set apart to be in stillness,
reflecting on the ultimate journey of all:
getting to know our true self and awaken our soul.
It is not an escape but a very real engagement with reality,
giving us fresh ways of seeing
and thus opening up new possibilities.

Zen Retreat (4 nights, 5 days)
The ZEN RETREAT is a rare opportunity to get away from the everyday hassles of life and focus on personal growth. It aims to provide a sense of inner peace and relaxation, while furthering your spiritual exploration.
Meditation is the core practice in Zen Buddhism. It is the mindful quality present in everything we do, and the pathway to discovering our basic mind and heart (who and what we are), building awareness of mind, self, others, and our surroundings.
Apart from zazen, the traditional sitting meditation, we include other forms of meditation: walking meditation outside (barefoot if the weather permits), sound meditation, meditation in nature and meditative walks in the surroundings.
In addition to meditation, each retreat combines a variety of Zen Buddhist practices, i.e.:
Chanting, where we express our heart through our voices.
Shabutsu, tracing of a Buddhist image as a form of meditation to focus our minds
Samu (work practice), where we learn to focus on the tasks at hand.
Creative activities as expression of our individual selves
Talks, in which we share the teachings of the Buddha.
Discussions, which provide the opportunity to ask questions and learn from others.
The middle day of the retreat is spent in silence with some suggestions on how to spend the day.
Our activities during the retreat will help you quiet your mind and gain awareness of your thoughts and that deeper inner voice called intuition. The retreat also helps you focus on how to apply the Zen teachings in your daily life through contemplating one of the many Zen Sayings during free time and exchanging your views with the participants and teachers.
Through this variety, the Zen Retreat is a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of the many facets of Zen.
Fee: 40.000 Yen (main meals, overnight stay and program),
Min. number of participants: 2, max. 8. In case of more than 4 participants, shared rooms. two people each.
Meals are vegetarian, special dietary requirements cannot be met, but you are free to bring own provisions. Bring your own snacks if you need, tea is provided. (Please take back any PET bottles you bring with you.)

Meditation and Creativity Retreat (2 nights, 3 days)
In many traditions art as expression of the Self has always been an integral part of spiritual practice. Creativity is simply to allow the spirit to fly free where it wants to go, give it life, let it play and direct you back towards remembering your sacred self – it is the vehicle and the essential language of giving meaning to that which cannot be expressed in words and which connects us all.
This retreat offers the opportunity to emerge into our creative potential with a playful mind and find the many expressions of our individuality.
Fee: 25.000 Yen (main meals, overnight stay and program),
Min. number of participants: 2, max.: 10. In case of more than 4 participants shared rooms, two people each.
Meals are vegetarian, special dietary requirements cannot be met, but you are free to bring own provisions. Bring your own snacks if you need, tea is provided.
Silence Retreat (min. 2 nights, max. 6 nights)
By Request
This opportunity gives you a chance to step out of your everyday routine to spend time in silence and meditation.
The Silence Retreat includes various forms of meditation inside and outdoors if weather permits. Also included are work practice (samu) and meditative creative activities and various poems or sayings for contemplative practice.
Fee: 7.000 Yen per day (program, vegetarian meals, lodgings)
