Embrace Mindfulness with Traditional Japanese Practices in Tokyo

During your trip to Tokyo, it is easy to get swept up in the busyness. If you are looking to reconnect with yourself and your surroundings while still experiencing the culture and history of Japan, check out our list of mindfulness activities.

Discover mindfulness activities that double as cultural experiences in Tokyo.

During your trip to Tokyo, it is easy to get swept up in the busyness. Whether you’re feverishly posting about your past ramen lunch or researching future sightseeing spots while exploring another, the city’s grandeur has a tendency to pull you away from the present moment.

If you are looking to reconnect with yourself and your surroundings while still experiencing the culture and history of Japan, check out our list of mindfulness activities below. All of the experiences are offered in Japanese and English and require reservations.

A Grounding Tea Experience — Takizme

Close your eyes and let the cleansing fragrance of incense and melody of running water guide you through the noren—Japanese entrance curtain. Welcome to Takizme, a tea house in a quiet residential area of Tokyo where you can embrace the present and enjoy Japanese tea culture in a casual manner. The most popular course “Welcoming Tea” starts with a reset of the senses—using incense for smell, boiled water for the palate, and mindful meditation for the brain. Afterwards, the host prepares four pairings of personally-crafted seasonal sweets and high quality Japanese teas. Throughout the experience, he encourages you to use all your senses and welcomes conversation, aiming to create a joyful tea experience free from rules. At the end, as your mind and body are fully immersed in the present, your heart will beat in rhythm with every drop of tea.

Takizme

Address 1-28-7 Higashishinagawa, Shinagawa City, Tokyo
URL Takizme

Ikebana For Beginners — Ikebana Workshop by ICHIYO SCHOOL

Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging and showcases plants’ inherent beauty in ways that align with how they naturally exist. ICHIYO SCHOOL of IKEBANA offers a free-flowing ikebana experience that emphasizes self-expression. However, it is important that you first learn the fundamentals of ikebana.

The workshop provides all the necessary materials, as well as a detailed explanation of the basics and philosophy of ikebana. Afterwards, you will create your own ikebana flower arrangement to bring out the individuality of the plants. In order to do so, you must purify your mind, “listen” to the voices of the flowers, and focus your senses on the work. By immersing yourself deeply in this mindful time, you can experience the world of ikebana and sharpen your senses.

Ikebana Workshop by ICHIYO SCHOOL

Address 4-17-5 Nakano, Nakano City, Tokyo
URL Ikebana Workshop by ICHIYO SCHOOL

Mindful Writing with Japanese Calligraphy — Udoyoshi Calligraphy Class

Writing is a part of daily life, whether it be typing an email or jotting down a grocery list. You often do it without thinking. Udoyoshi Calligraphy Class turns your attention back to the act of writing, rather than its meaning. This calligraphy course teaches Gendaibun no Wayoh (Modern Japanese Wayoh), a type of calligraphy that focuses on modern Japanese script instead of traditional Chinese kaisho—square style—characters. After choosing your desired words, the teacher provides a writing demonstration. Then, it is your turn. As you glide the ink across the white paper, your concentration and senses will sharpen, and you will notice self-expression in every stroke. Your teacher’s gentle guidance will help you experience mindfulness through calligraphy.

Udoyoshi Calligraphy Class
Address 2-14-12 Yushima, Bunkyo City, Tokyo
URL Udoyoshi Calligraphy Class (JPN)