[Kyoto, Imperial Palace West, Chotokuji Temple] Experience tea, incense, and Muromachi culture ~A day to experience the origins of the Sohen school of tea ceremony~

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• Chotoku-ji Temple is the birthplace of Yamada Sohen, the founder of the Sohen School of Teaism in the early Edo period. Located west of the Imperial Palace in a quiet residential area, Chotoku-ji Temple, a Shinshu Otani school temple, is a place of tranquility. A sip of tea and a single stick of incense—a moment of tranquility experienced with all five senses, at the origin of Sohen. As a monk, Yamada Sohen cultivated Buddhist spirituality and aesthetic sensibility early on at his birthplace, Chotoku-ji Temple. Later, he pursued the world of tea ceremony, following the spirit of Rikyu, while pursuing a more introspective and spiritually profound "wabicha" (wabi tea). This unconventional approach, focused on capturing the atmosphere and the feelings of the guests, remains a distinctive feature of the Sohen School of Teaism, passed down to the present day. Experience the Muromachi culture of tea and incense arts at Chotoku-ji Temple. After the experience, you'll have a short moment of sutra copying or zazen, followed by a sermon from the head priest, to restore both body and mind. Experience an extraordinary two-hour experience in a tranquil space.
• Tour of the tea room associated with Shuhen and talk with the head priest of Chotokuji Temple
• You will be guided around Jogan-an, a small tea room associated with Sohen.
• Kodo: "Make Incense, Listen to Incense" - A cultural experience of fragrance
• We will introduce the art of incense, which was familiar to cultural figures of the same era as Sohen, in a form that is suited to the modern era. We will introduce natural incense ingredients (agarwood, sandalwood, cinnamon, etc.), check your own identity using a Yin-Yang and Five Elements checklist, and experience creating incense (using several incense materials, mix your own incense to balance your mind and body). *Participants will be able to take home the incense they have mixed, wrapped in Japanese paper. Next, we will experience the art of incense listening. We will learn the basics of incense woods and use an incense burner to compare the scents of incense woods.
• Experience thin tea ceremony at the tea house "Ichijoan," learn about the spirit of Buddhism through calligraphy and zazen (main hall)
• Learn the basics, spirit, and etiquette of the tea ceremony in an easy-to-understand manner. You will enjoy a cup of matcha tea with a seasonal main sweet while learning how to prepare thin tea, proper behavior on the tatami mat, and how to interact with the tea utensils. Spend a quiet moment learning not only how to prepare tea, but also the spirit of the tea ceremony. The experience concludes with a talk by the head priest and a short period of zazen or sutra copying before returning home feeling refreshed in mind and body.