In a Monk's Robes

Step inside a working Buddhist temple in Osaka and spend several hours following the rhythms of a monk’s day. You’ll meet your hosts - a practicing monk who also works as an architect, and Zane, who has spent ten years in Japan studying religious and cultural traditions. Then you’ll change into the traditional robes of a monk and begin a series of mindful rituals. First, a guided meditation and the practice of shakyo: hand-copying sutras in the form of kanji characters using brush and ink. This is a daily ritual for monks, intended to steady the mind before service. Outside, you’ll assist in sweeping the temple grounds - a brief, meaningful act of service and discipline. Midday, you’ll share a shojin ryori meal: a simple, seasonal vegetarian lunch prepared in the Buddhist tradition. Zane provides translation, insights and context throughout. At the end of the day, you’ll receive either a goshuin (temple stamp) or omamori (amulet)—a small marker of your day as a monk in Osaka.

Most introductions to monastic life in Japan take place in rural retreats. This temple is an active religious site in the grid of central Osaka. You’ll speak with the monks about their lives, explore the overlaps and tensions between secular and spiritual paths, and observe how Buddhist tradition is preserved and adapted in a modern context. The monk who leads the experience also works as an architect. His approach integrates design with ritual. His wife prepares the mid-day meal using principles of shojin ryori passed down through temple tradition. Zane, who has spent a decade in Japan, helps translate both language and context, offering interpretation that clarifies without interrupting the cadence of the day. This experience exists because of their friendship. The access comes through trust and invitation. Their hospitality and passion for sharing Japanese culture are generous. You’ll come away with insight and understanding of a world that usually stays closed to outsiders.

The experience is co-led by a temple monk who also works as an architect. He is passionate about blending modern design with tradition and along with his wife, who was born into a temple family, works to promote Japanese culture by creating various events such as tea ceremonies. Your co-host is Zane, a resident of Japan for 10 years originally from New York. His passion for learning about traditional Japanese culture and sharing it with overseas visitors has led him to close collaborations with Japanese people to share unique experiences for visitors to Japan. Zane also practices Japanese calligraphy and has a workshop in Kyoto.

A bottle of water, especially on hot days Burning questions you have about life as a monk in Japan