Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens
Gardens imbued with the spirit of Zen, historic buildings, and modern architecture.
- Duration: 8 hours (starting at 9:00)
- Price: On request
- Departure: Departure and arrival at hotels in Okayama
Overview
Nestled among the mountains of Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture, Shinshoji is a Zen temple with expansive grounds. Founded in 1965 by Hideo Kambara, founder of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, in memory of the victims of maritime disasters, the temple began a new chapter in 2016 as the Zen & Garden Museum. Today, it is one of Japan’s most extraordinary cultural spaces, where Zen, gardens, architecture, and contemporary art exist in remarkable harmony.
During this journey, you will discover various facets of Japanese aesthetics, gathered in one place. The grounds feature gardens created by three generations of the renowned Nakane family of landscape masters, where the changing seasons and the philosophy of Zen are reflected in every stone, tree, and pond. Here you will also find Matsudo by architect Terunobu Fujimori—an unusual structure with red pines growing on its roof—as well as Kōtei, created by artist Kohei Nawa and the SANDWICH studio, a space of light, water, and sound that blurs the boundaries between architecture and art.
A special place is held by the tea pavilion of the Omotesenke school, recreated by the eminent sukiya-zukuri master Masao Nakamura according to ancient drawings. Here, the tradition of the tea ceremony unfolds as part of the broader world of Japanese spiritual culture, where beauty is born from attention to detail, silence, and the flow of time.
Shinshoji is not just a temple, but an entire world where historical and contemporary architecture, Zen gardens, tea culture, and modern art are united by a singular sense of tranquility. A walk through its grounds offers a glimpse into the Japanese understanding of beauty, rooted in contemplation, harmony, and the value of each moment.
Itinerary: Okayama Hotel → Shinshoji Zen & Garden Museum → Shoshintei → Kōtei → Gokandō (lunch) → Shūrōken → Mumyō-in garden → Okayama Hotel
Key Features
- Zen and Garden Museum — Shinshoji is a Rinzai Zen temple founded in 1965 by Hideo Kanbara, president of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding. Historic buildings, Zen gardens, and contemporary architecture create a unique open-air museum.
- Kohtei — A boat-shaped pavilion with a thatched roof, created by sculptor Kohei Nawa and SANDWICH. It seems to float above a stone-paved garden, while inside, light shimmers on the ripples of water in a dark, immersive exhibition space.
- Shodō — The office building was designed by architect-historian Terunobu Fujimori and completed in 2014. Red pines, a symbol of the region, are planted on the roof, while the structure is supported by roughly hewn beams and columns of red pine.
- Shoshintei — A garden with a pond created by Shiro and Yukihiro Nakane. At its center lies the Shinji Pond, shaped like the kanji character for "heart." A unique bamboo fence, woven from bamboo branches, is also one of the attractions.
- Mumyo-in Garden — The garden by Nakane Kinsaku, renowned for the gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art. Three gardens—“Unknowing,” “Amida’s Triad,” and “Arhats” surround the main hall. The Sogondo Hall houses Zen works by Hakuin.
- Shuroken — The tea room, recreated by tea tradition researcher Masao Nakamura. The rodji garden, designed by Kinsaku Nakane, invites guests to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a tea ceremony with matcha and seasonal sweets.
Continue with VIP ACCESS
The day-by-day itinerary, the timetable and the names of the shops and workshops we visit are available to VIP ACCESS members.