Surrounded by the magnificent nature of Awaji Island, it's a place where you can leisurely face yourself.
[ZENBO SEINEI]
A wooden structure suddenly emerges amidst the scenery of Awaji Island. Opened in April 2022, "Zenbo Seinei" is a retreat facility where you can experience the changing seasons of nature with all five senses in the breathtaking panoramic views that span 360 degrees
Engage in activities such as Zen and yoga to calm the mind, while also maintaining the balance of the mind and body by indulging in healthy cuisine that excludes animal products, wheat flour, oil, and sugar. Zenbo Seinei offers a space where you can confront yourself and spend tranquil moments.
What is well-being? Why not experience it while being embraced by the great nature of Awaji Island?
●Table of contents
●Zenbo Seinei: Three Key Features
"Zenbo Seinei" is a "Zen Retreat Facility" located in a tranquil environment surrounded by mountains on all sides in the northern part of Awaji Island. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can enjoy the radiant sunlight, clear air, majestic greenery, and twinkling stars in the night sky while being surrounded by nature in all directions.
Here, we introduce three key features of "Zenbo Seinei".
◆Architecture
"Zenbo Seinei" is a building designed by Mr. Shigeru Ban, who has been awarded the highest honor in the architectural world, the Pritzker Prize. Utilizing domestically sourced wood for both interior and exterior, the architecture creates a landscape integrated with the forest, meticulously calculated not to surpass the ridgeline of Awaji Island.
Among its highlights is a 100-meter-long wooden deck made from Japanese cedar.
You can walk barefoot on the deck, feeling the warmth and scent of the wood, or meditate in Zen meditation chairs developed to allow for serene contemplation.
On the observation deck, designed to let the wind pass through, you can enjoy various natural sounds such as the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds.
◆ZEN Retreat
At "Zenbo Seinei," you can experience various activities including meditation and yoga to balance your mind and body while surrounded by nature.
Programs are available for self-reflection through ZEN retreats, awakening the senses while immersed in nature. Activities such as "ZEN Calligraphy," where you write characters with a unified mind, "ZEN Incense" for appreciating various fragrances of incense, and "ZEN Tea Ceremony," where you prepare tea while calming your mind, are offered to awaken the senses and facilitate self-reflection.
◆ZEN Cuisine
At "Zenbo Seinei," we offer our uniquely developed "Zenbo Cuisine" using seasonal ingredients from Awaji Island. These dishes are created without the use of animal products, wheat flour, oil, or sugar, resulting in meals that are gentle on the body and low in burden.
Supervised by Chef Nobuaki Fushiki, a fermentation and brewing specialist, our cuisine cherishes the Japanese food culture of "fermentation." Seasonings such as miso, soy sauce, and mirin are directly sourced from breweries and carefully selected based on traditional fermentation methods that take one to three years to mature. We also incorporate homemade seasonings like sweet sake and hishio (fermented paste) that are still actively fermenting.
Awaji Island, surrounded by abundant nature, is a treasure trove of ingredients. Our dishes, crafted using locally sourced seasonal ingredients, fully bring out the flavors of the ingredients. They are filled with the blessings of the land, helping to balance both mind and body.
●Programs Available at Zenbo Seinei
At "Zenbo Seinei," we offer multiple programs to ensure that our guests can experience the retreat according to their convenience and state of being.
Here, we introduce an overnight stay plan for one night and two days, where you can immerse yourself in nature and confront yourself deeply, as well as a day trip plan where you can feel the retreat effect in a short time.
◆Stay Plans
Watch the night sky and bask in the morning sun. This is a plan to face your true self and heal your mind and body through ZEN Wellness (meditation and yoga) incorporating Zen philosophy, while being surrounded by the ever-changing nature of Awaji Island from season to season.
Except for ZEN Wellness (afternoon and evening of Day 1 and morning of Day 2), ZEN calligraphy, ZEN tea, evening and breakfast, and the morning service, you can spend your time facing yourself as you wish in a room built of wood in harmony with nature.
◆Day Trip Plans
This is a four-hour plan for detoxing and retreating both mentally and physically.
After experiencing meditation and yoga amidst the radiant sunlight, clear air, and majestic greenery, you can indulge in freshly prepared original Zen temple cuisine and homemade tea sweets crafted by our chef, along with the ZEN experience (ZEN tea and ZEN calligraphy).
You also have the option to change and relax in the private accommodations of the temple lodging.
Experience a new sensation with our exclusive Afternoon Tea Plan, only available at "Zenbo Seinei".
Our Zen temple sweets and savories (non-sweet light snacks) are a novel wellness food that fills both body and soul, utilizing seasonal ingredients and those from Awaji Island. They contain no animal products, eggs, or wheat flour.
Enjoy your tea time on the Zen temple deck surrounded by nature, providing a special time for rest and rejuvenation.
To enhance your palate and enrich each bite, we also offer a plan that combines ZEN Wellness (meditation) before the Afternoon Tea.
This is a short plan where you can experience a one-hour ZEN retreat while spending dusk at "Zenbo Seinei".
Amidst the majestic wilderness, surrounded by profound silence, you'll watch the sinking sun, capturing the warmth of the wind and trees with your senses. Align your mind and body as the day draws to a close with the sun, ready to embrace a new day in a retreated state.
Special plans featuring guest lecturers are held irregularly for both the overnight stay plans and the day-trip plans. For more details, please check the website below.
●Official Information for Zenbo Seinei
Facility Name:Zenbo Seinei
Address:2594-5 Jibanaka, Kusumoto, Awaji City, Hyogo 656-2301, Japan
TEL:+81-799-70-9087
Email:[email protected]
Access:
[By Public Transport]
From Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal,
take the Kita-Awaji Nishikaigan line bound for Iwaya, Nojima, and Hokudan Interchange, and alight at Zenbo Seinei-Mae.
At Shin-Kobe Station,
board the Kakehashi-gō highway bus.
Transfer to the free shuttle bus at Awaji Interchange.
<Free Shuttle Bus (within Awaji Island)>
Bus Boarding & Alighting Location
[By Car]
From Awaji IC on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway:
Approximately 3km (about 4 minutes) to Prefectural Route 157.
*Parking available (free)