ACEM MEDITATION

Shisen-do Temple (The House of Great Poets) was built in 1641 at the foot of the Higashiyama Mountains  by a former shogun.  He used the home as his hermitage and named it after the classical Chinese poets he admired and studied.  .

The one-mile Philosopher’s Walk follows a canal lined with cherry trees (naturally, the best time to visit is when they’re blooming in April).  Located at the base of the Higashiyama foothills, the path was the favorite route for a Kyoto university professor, Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945), who walked it daily.  Shops, restaurants, and cafes line the scenic route, which is still perfect for a contemplative stroll.

The offers an introduction to traditional Japanese arts and entertainment.  Its one-hour program includes an overview of the tea ceremony, koto (Japanese harp), flower arranging, gagaku (ancient court music and dance), kyogen comedy, and dances performed by apprentice geisha.