Meditate above the forest at Zenbo Seinei

What the experience is

Zenbo Seinei is a wellness retreat inspired by Zen, in the wooded hills of the north-west of Awaji Island, in the Seto Inland Sea. It was designed by Shigeru Ban, who won the Pritzker Prize in 2014, and opened in 2022. It is not a temple or a monastery. The building is a long timber structure lifted above the forest, and its top level is an open, roofed deck, about 100 metres long, level with the treetops and looking out over the hills in every direction.

This is where guests sit. A visit follows a set pattern. Guests are led through zazen, seated meditation, and through light movement or yoga on the deck. Other sessions have included calligraphy, tea and incense. The meals are a contemporary, plant-based version of temple cooking, made with vegetables from the island and without meat or dairy.

Most visitors come for a day programme of a few hours. An overnight stay, in one of a small number of rooms, adds evening and dawn sessions. The retreat is open only to guests who have reserved a programme, so it cannot be visited on impulse.

When to go

The retreat operates through the year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons on an open deck.

Getting there

Awaji is joined to the mainland by the Akashi Kaikyo bridge. The retreat is reached by road, with direct highway buses from Kobe and a free shuttle from the Iwaya ferry port, and is a little over an hour from Osaka.

Good to know

Programmes are booked in advance with the retreat, which belongs to the Pasona group. Programmes in English are offered on a limited basis, so check the language and dates when booking.

Why OKYTO recommends it

It is a way to try Zen-inspired practice in a building that is itself worth the journey, without the commitment of a monastery. Those who want the monastic original can stay in a temple on Mount Koya. The island’s buildings by Tadao Ando make a full day.