[Private] Shizuoka Shore Excursion: Zen, Matcha & Calligraphy

About this tour

A private cultural tour in Shizuoka designed for cruise passengers with minimal port time. You'll visit Seiganyo-ji Temple, a site connected to the Tokugawa shogunate, where you'll practise seated meditation, prepare and taste premium matcha with traditional sweets, then craft your own calligraphy on a hanging scroll to take home. Your English-speaking guide collects you from the pier and ensures you're back with hours to spare, using efficient taxi transport to maximise your 2.5 hours ashore.

Highlights

• Private tour, no group waits or shared schedules
• Seiganyo-ji Temple and Tokugawa samurai heritage
• Guided Zen meditation with chair option available
• Prepare and taste premium matcha with seasonal sweets
• Paint calligraphy on traditional hanging scroll (Kakejiku)
• English-speaking guide meets you at cruise pier
• Back at port with time for lunch or rest

What to expect

Your guide will greet you at the pier and transport you by taxi to Seiganyo-ji Temple. After a 30-minute walk around the grounds, you'll sit for a brief meditation session indoors (chairs provided if you prefer not to kneel). Next comes the matcha experience: you'll watch the preparation ritual, then taste the whisked tea alongside a seasonal sweet. The final activity is your calligraphy session, where your guide helps you select characters and you paint them onto a scroll using traditional brushes and ink—this becomes your take-home souvenir. Everything moves at a deliberate pace despite the tight timeframe.

Good to know

Taxi fares (roughly 2,000 JPY each way) are paid separately to the driver; your guide handles all directions. Wear comfortable shoes for the temple walk. The meditation and tea are performed indoors. Bring a small bag for your finished scroll. Meals beyond matcha and sweets aren't included.