[Private] Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha & Calligraphy
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Description
Experience the ultimate private cultural immersion in Shizuoka. Designed exclusively for cruise travelers, this premium tour offers an intimate journey at a dynamic, efficient pace. **Highlights** - 100% Private: No waiting for groups. Enjoy a personalized pace. - Samurai Heritage: Explore Seiganyo-ji Temple, connected to Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. - Authentic Zen & Tea: Experience meditation (chairs available) and premium Matcha with sweets. - Premium Keepsake: Create your own calligraphy on a traditional scroll (Kakejiku). - Full Support: Your English-speaking private guide meets you at the pier and stays with you throughout the entire tour. **Time-Efficient Itinerary (2.5 - 3 Hours)** We maximize your limited shore time. By utilizing taxi transport and a focused 30-minute temple walk, we provide a rich experience without the wasted time of large bus tours. You’ll be back at the pier or local lunch spots with plenty of time to spare.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit Seiken-ji Temple, a historic Zen Buddhist temple with over 1,000 years of history. The temple is famously associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, who studied here as a child. Guests will explore the serene temple grounds, admire its traditional wooden architecture, and gain insight into the role this temple played in shaping Japanese history and culture.
At Zuiun-in Temple, you'll enjoy a peaceful introduction to Japanese Zen culture. Start with a zazen (seated meditation) session guided by a Zen monk. Focus on your breath and posture to experience a calm moment of mindfulness. After meditation, enjoy matcha green tea and seasonal Japanese sweets in a traditional tatami room. Learn the basics of Japanese tea culture and hospitality. Next is a unique calligraphy experience. Based on the sound of your name, you’ll be offered several beautiful kanji characters, each with a positive meaning such as “love,” “peace,” or “smile.” Choose your favorite, and learn to write it with brush and ink. You’ll take home your own handmade art as a special souvenir. For those interested, we can also explain the traditional concept of stroke count balance, used in Japan to select kanji characters with good fortune and harmony. This experience is a perfect way to relax, learn, and connect with Japanese culture in an authentic and personal way.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(14)
The selected sites provided great settings for learning about local history and culture . Our guide was extremely personable, knowledgeable, and responsive. The hands on activities were well organized and offered interesting and enjoyable opportunities to experience the local culture.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed learning about local history and culture, and that the hands-on activities added fun to the experience. We still remember trying to find each other at the meeting point — a little adventure before the tour even started! We're glad we connected in the end and could spend a wonderful day together. We truly appreciate your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back to Shimizu someday!
We had a delightful day with this tour. The guides provided so much background detail. The meditation experience was very moving and impactful. The calligraphy was a very special unique challenge. Highly recommend this intimate and rewarding experience.
Thank you so much for joining our tour and for your wonderful review! We’re glad to hear that the meditation touched you deeply and that the calligraphy challenge made the experience memorable. Sharing Japanese culture in an intimate way is something we value greatly, so your words truly mean a lot to our team. We hope to welcome you back to Shimizu again—perhaps to try a new kanji next time! Safe travels and thank you again!
I can't say enough great things about our experience - it was a fantastic way to spend the day in Shimizu. Our tour guide was knowledgable and friendly, the temple and monastery were gorgeous, and we got a taste of the local culture without any stress. And we went home with our calligraphy souvenirs!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review — and congratulations again on your honeymoon! We’re truly honored that you chose to spend part of your special trip with us in Shimizu. It makes us very happy to hear that you enjoyed the temple visit, cultural experiences, and your calligraphy souvenirs. Wishing you both a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and many more beautiful adventures together.
I truly enjoyed the balance of the experience — history, meditation, and hands-on culture. Seikenji Temple was impressive, and the Zen session helped me slow down after busy travel days. The matcha was slightly bitter, but authentic, and writing kanji was a highlight. Everything was well explained in English and perfectly timed for cruise passengers.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the balance of history, Zen meditation, and hands-on culture — that harmony is exactly what we hope to share with our guests. We truly appreciate your kind words about the explanations and timing, and we’re glad the matcha and calligraphy made the experience memorable. Wishing you peaceful and inspiring journeys ahead, and we’d love to welcome you back to Shimizu anytime.
We had a wonderful stop in Shimizu. Visiting Seikenji Temple was peaceful and the Zen meditation was a new experience for us, even calming for our teenagers. Afterward we enjoyed tea and sweets and some other cultural activities. The guide was friendly and spoke excellent English, which made everything very easy and enjoyable.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re very happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere at Seikenji Temple and that the Zen meditation was a calming experience for everyone — even for your teenagers! We’re also glad that the tea, sweets, and cultural activities added to your visit, and truly appreciate your kind words about our guide. Wishing you many more wonderful travels, and we hope to welcome you back to Shimizu someday!
My wife and I joined this tour while our cruise was in port and it was one of the best things we did in Japan. The tea ceremony was fascinating – graceful, beautiful, and very different from anything back home. We also visited a historic temple and enjoyed a short meditation and calligraphy activity, which made the whole experience feel rich and authentic. The small group size and friendly guide made it feel very personal. Highly recommended!
Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you and your wife enjoyed the experience and felt the tea ceremony and calligraphy were so unique and authentic. It means a lot to us that the small group setting and our guide made the tour feel personal and memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Shimizu someday for more peaceful and beautiful moments.
This tour was perfect for our family with young kids. Even the short bus ride to the temple was exciting for our children (7 and 9) – they loved watching the scenery and felt like real adventurers. At the temple, they absolutely enjoyed trying calligraphy with brush and ink, and were so proud to take home their own kanji characters. We also had a taste of matcha with sweets and a peaceful temple visit. Everything was well organized, close to the port, and easy with kids. Highly recommended for families!
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely review! We’re so happy to hear that your children enjoyed the calligraphy and felt like little adventurers on the way to the temple — that’s exactly the kind of experience we hope families can enjoy together. We truly appreciate your kind words and are glad the activity was easy and enjoyable for both kids and parents. Wishing you and your family many more wonderful travels, and we’d love to welcome you back to Shimizu again someday!
We had a wonderful time in Shimizu. Visiting Seikenji Temple was a highlight – the atmosphere was calm and the Zen meditation was unforgettable, even for our teenagers who usually find it hard to sit still. Afterwards we enjoyed matcha with sweets and some other cultural activities. The guide was kind, knowledgeable, and spoke excellent English. Truly a memorable experience during our cruise stop!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you and your family enjoyed your time in Shimizu, especially the Zen meditation at Seikenji Temple. It’s great to know that even your teenagers found it memorable! We truly appreciate your kind words about our guide and are happy the matcha and calligraphy experiences added to your visit. We hope your cruise journey continues to be filled with great memories — you’re always welcome back to Shimizu anytime!
This tour was a wonderful experience to enter into Japanese culture with authentic zen meditation, matcha tea ceremony and calligraphy lesson. Sherry (hope I spelled your name correct) and her assistant guide did a wonderful job to make this a memoriable day for us. Thank you both so much for your kindness and warmhearted tour guidance.
Thank you so much for your lovely words! I’m happy you enjoyed the Zen meditation, matcha, and calligraphy. Sherry and the team will be glad to know they made your day memorable. We truly appreciate your kindness and hope to welcome you again in Shimizu!
t was a short tour but very complete — temple, meditation, tea, calligraphy. The guide explained everything clearly, and even our teenagers stayed interested (which is saying a lot!). I liked how personal it felt compared to the big-city tours. Definitely a good choice for families.
Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m glad you enjoyed the temple, meditation, tea, and calligraphy — and even the teenagers had fun! We always aim for a personal experience, and I’m happy it felt that way. Hope to see you again in Shimizu!
