The word “unrecognized” spoken by the great master Daruma. It is the gateway to profound awareness beyond knowledge.
At Kennin-ji, Kyoto's oldest Zen temple, this fundamental question is revived for the modern age.
In a space of silence that has witnessed 1,200 years of history, cutting-edge visual technology blends seamlessly,
creating a new venue for spiritual experience.
Zen and tea brought back from China by the founding master Eisai. In the quiet of night, the abbot's front garden is enveloped in stillness. Projection mapping depicts the world of “Fushiki,” and through special experiences of zazen and tea ceremony, you will encounter the essence of Japanese culture.
Beyond mere sightseeing.
Where history and technology, tradition and innovation intersect,
we reveal new possibilities for cultural assets.
Silence and light intertwine in a projection mapping and fantastical illumination themed around “Fushiki” (the unknown). Experience the spirituality of Japanese culture within the solemnly adorned Kennin-ji Temple. Enjoy a truly unique, unforgettable evening—a special moment you'll cherish forever. Featuring digital art “Digital Kakemono” by master artist Akira Hasegawa, expressing transience, and cutting-edge 3D hologram performances.
The origins of tea ceremony at Kennin-ji Temple are said to trace back to its founder, Zen Master Eisai, who brought tea seeds from China along with Zen Buddhism. At Kennin-ji, with its deep connection to both Zen and tea, we will offer a specially curated program combining zazen meditation and tea ceremony for this event. Held before the special nighttime viewing, it will provide an immersive space exclusively for participants of this special experience.
■Features
■Schedule
We also offer a limited-time matcha tea ceremony for general evening visitors, allowing you to experience the splendor of Kennin-ji Temple.
■Features
Special Matcha Ceremony in the Grand Study Hall
| Event | Sensory Experience of ZEN and FUSHIKI 〜The World of Zen and Unknowing Experienced Through the Five Senses〜 |
|---|---|
| Content |
We will hold an event themed around the teaching of “not knowing” by the great master Bodhidharma at Kennin-ji Temple, one of Kyoto's oldest Zen temples.
|
| Date and Time |
Saturday, November 1, 2025 to Saturday, November 8, 2025
|
| Location | Head Temple of the Rinzai School: Kennin-ji Abbot's Quarters, Dharma Hall, and Other Areas |
| Fees |
|
Silence and light intertwine in a projection mapping and fantastical illumination themed around “Fushiki” (the unknown). Experience the spirituality of Japanese culture within the solemnly adorned Kennin-ji Temple. Enjoy a truly unique, unforgettable evening—a special moment you'll cherish forever. Featuring digital art “Digital Kakemono” by master artist Akira Hasegawa, expressing transience, and cutting-edge 3D hologram performances.
Kenrinji Temple, where the founder Eisai Zenji is said to have brought tea seeds from China to Japan along with Zen, holds a deep connection to both Zen and tea. We will offer a special experience program featuring zazen meditation and tea ceremony, created specifically for this event. By holding it before the special nighttime viewing, we provide an immersive space exclusively for guests participating in this special experience.
“Fushiki” Project Executive Committee
Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Kyoto Prefecture Tourism Federation (Public Interest Incorporated Association),
Kyoto City Tourism Association (Public Interest Incorporated Association),
Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation),
Kyoto Shimbun, KBS Kyoto, FM Kyoto
TEAM FIRE is a production group dedicated to creating new works by merging the appeal of traditional culture and historical heritage with cutting-edge technology, with the hope of helping to pass these treasures on to future generations. We assemble the most suitable team for each venue where we implement light-up displays, delivering events that delight our clients.
Agency for Cultural Affairs Fiscal Year 2025 “Cultural Resource Utilization Project Subsidy
(Projects Promoting the Utilization of Attractive Cultural Properties Nationwide)” Selected Projects
Contact: Droots Co., Ltd. /
Phone:075-361-6668
〒600-8411 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Shimogyo Ward, Karasuma-dori Shijo-sagaru, Suiginya-cho 620 COCON KARASUMA 4F
Ken'nin-ji Temple was founded in Ken'nin 2 (1202) when Shogun Minamoto no Yoriie donated the temple grounds. Zen Master Eisai was appointed its founding abbot, and the temple was modeled after Mount Baizhang in Song Dynasty China. It takes its name from the era name and is known by the mountain name Tōzan. Its various halls were constructed to resemble those of Mount Baizhang in China. At its founding, it practiced the three schools of Tendai, Esoteric Buddhism, and Zen concurrently. However, after the arrival of the Song Dynasty Zen monk Rankei Doryu, the founding abbot of Kencho-ji Temple, in 1259, Zen practices and regulations (Zen monastery rules) were strictly enforced, transforming it into a pure Zen training ground. After eight centuries, it stands as a cultural heritage site imbued with history.
584 Komatsuchō, Shijō-sagaru, Yamato-ōji-dōri, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City 7-minute walk from Keihan Railway “Gion-Shijō Station”
