CHIYODA, GUNMA
The hour when the evening sun falls in a circle on the wall.
Stillness,
with a dash of spice.
TEMPLE STAY ZENSŌ
TERAHAKU
Not a traditional shukubo,
but “Terahaku.”
The detached house of a 700-year-old temple, for just one group a day.
Your dog is welcome too. Try zazen, bake a pizza, or simply sleep.
The temple keeps its quiet dignity, and lets you come a little closer.
CONCEPT
Take one corner from a □,
and it becomes a △.
Take them all, and it becomes a ◯.
Born from the Ensō window at the entrance,
the mark of ZENSŌ.
Beyond the round window,
what do you see?
ZEN + ENSŌZen, and the Ensō window. Also ensō, the brushed circle; zensō, a Zen monk; and zensō, a Zen retreat.
One name, with many meanings layered together.
One name, with many meanings layered together.
VALUESThree things ZENSŌ holds dear
01 — SerendipityChance encountersA place where guests and locals happen to meet.
02 — MeticulousCare in every detailEven where no one looks, with care.
03 — Pay it ForwardPaying it forwardKindness received, passed on to the next person.
THINGS TO DO
Things to do here
Bake pizza in a wood-fired oven
PIZZA OVEN
BBQ in the temple grounds
BBQ
Grind the beans, savor the cup
HIRAKU COFFEE
Sutra copying
SUTRA COPYING
Morning service
MORNING SERVICE
Work, at a temple
WORKATION1 / 7
HOW TO STAY
One way to spend a day
One night, two days. Scroll slowly, keeping pace with the clock.
DAY 1 15:00
Check-in
Through the temple gate, to the house.
16:00
Sutra copying
Brush in hand, one character at a time.
18:00
Dinner over a wood fire
The pizza oven and the BBQ. Pick up ingredients at the supermarket nearby.
20:00
The lantern-lit path
The temple grounds, all to yourself.
DAY 2 0:00
The date changes.
Good night. Nights at the temple are quiet.
7:00
Morning service
Joining is up to you. Come along if you're up.
7:30
Zazen
Sit for a little while in the main hall.
8:30
Morning coffee
Grind HIRAKU's beans and linger over coffee on the deck.
11:00
Check-out
Back out through the temple gate. Come again anytime.
THE HOUSE
The whole house, just for you
Sleep on tatami, relax in an earthen-floor living room, cook in a full kitchen.
Up to 6 guests.
WITH YOUR DOG 🐾
Stay at a temple, with your dog
- Up to 2 dogs, medium size or smaller
- Room to relax on the earthen floor and the deck
- Walks in the temple grounds, and time by the BBQ
AROUND
From one spot, to the whole town
Step outside the temple: the Tone River ferry, eel, a sake brewery,
the town's coffee shop. The whole town becomes the destination.
AWARDS
FEATURED IN
NEWS
RESERVATION