An Exclusive Journey into the Zen Philosophy and World of Shakuhachi Flutes at Kamakura’s Houkoku-ji Bamboo Temple

Encounter Centuries of Zen Tradition within Hokoku-ji’s Bamboo Landscape

Hokoku-ji was founded in 1334 by Ashikaga Ietoki, grandfather of Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of the Muromachi Period (1336 – 1573). Affiliated with the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, the temple has long been celebrated as a spiritual and political center of medieval Kamakura.

Today, Hokoku-ji is recognized internationally for its Bamboo Garden where 2,000 stalks of moso and madake bamboo create one of Japan’s most contemplative landscapes. Maintained daily by dedicated gardeners, the green space rewards visitors with inner peace as they pause to experience the surrounding silence, wind, and nature firsthand rather than through the lens of a camera. Guests also get a chance to experience the Bamboo Garden after closing hours, with no other visitors in sight.

Meet the Shakuhachi Master Reviving the Practice of Musical Zen

Lenzan Kudo graduated from the Graduate School of Tokyo University of the Arts and has performed internationally throughout Europe and Asia, including recitals before members of the Imperial Family and appearances on the BBC. He has also contributed music to such works as Kokuho, one of the most highly regarded Japanese movies in recent years, with a story focused on the world of kabuki theater and music that includes the shakuhachi flute.

Based in Kamakura, Kudo has dedicated his life’s work to reviving suizen, the original Zen meditative practice of the shakuhachi once practiced by komuso wandering monks known for their basket-like straw hats obscuring their entire face. He personally harvests bamboo (which he describes as an encounter with impermanence and life itself) to craft traditional shakuhachi bamboo flutes. He normally teaches at his shakuhachi dojo where he explores the relationship between breath, sound, and Zen philosophy.

Experience Hokoku-ji’s Bamboo Garden Through the Lens of Zen

The experience begins at Hokoku-ji’s main gate where guests are welcomed by both the temple curator and Lenzan Kudo. As guests proceed through the grounds, the curator introduces the history of this 14th-century complex and the role it has played within Kamakura’s Zen tradition. Other conversation topics include the philosophy behind the garden’s meticulous maintenance and all it has to offer.

The route then leads into Hokoku-ji’s internationally acclaimed Bamboo Garden, awarded three stars by the MICHELIN Green Guide Japon. Home to 2,000 bamboo stalks, the garden’s beauty is sustained through daily care, from maintaining the bamboo itself to preserving the atmosphere of tranquility that defines the space. Guests are encouraged to put away their cameras and experience the movement of air through the bamboo, the shifting light, and the surrounding silence. This process of quiet observation prepares both the mind and breath for the upcoming suizen practice.

*Please note that illumination is available only from October 15 to February 29.

*Please note that the illumination may be canceled if it suddenly rains on the day.

Hear the Sound of Zen

Inside Hokoku-ji’s main hall, surrounded by the stillness of the temple after visiting hours, Lenzan Kudo ushers guests into the world of suizen. Centuries ago, only komuso monks were permitted to practice this form of “blowing Zen,” using the shakuhachi as a path toward spiritual awakening rather than musical expression. Kudo explains how the instrument’s direct relationship with the lifeforce of breathing enabled it to become a vehicle for pursuing inner peace.

Guests then encounter proper breathing techniques that apply both to suizen and to daily life. By shifting awareness from the muscles to the skeleton, guests learn an approach that Kudo believes can reduce physical and mental fatigue. As they practice with the shakuhachi bamboo flute, guests also explore concepts central to Zen philosophy, including itton jobutsu (“attaining enlightenment through a single sound”), the coexistence of seemingly opposing qualities within sound, and the pursuit of what Kudo describes as a “sound without self,” said to erase the ego.

Find the Yin, Yang, Strength, and Stillness In Suizen

The experience concludes with a private performance of Honte no Shirabe, traditionally regarded as both the first and last piece studied by shakuhachi practitioners. According to Lenzan Kudo, the piece evolves throughout a lifetime of practice, reflecting changes in body, philosophy, and lived experiences.

Pay close attention to the sonic qualities of the shakuhachi flute associated with concepts of yin and yang, described in contracting terms such as “soft” and “strong.” The masterful performance reveals how these opposites can coexist in beautiful harmony. At the conclusion of the experience, guests receive CDs with music by Lenzan Kudo.

An Exclusive After-Hours Journey into Breath, Sound, and Zen at Hokoku-ji

Step beyond the crowds and enter Hokoku-ji after hours for an immersive encounter with Zen through the rare practice of suizen, or "blowing Zen." Guided by shakuhachi master Lenzan Kudo, guests explore Kamakura's celebrated bamboo temple through breath, sound, silence, and contemplative observation. A private recital concludes the experience.

Through this rare cultural encounter, guests gain practical techniques for cultivating awareness via breath and posture while exploring profound Zen concepts of the inner self, balance, and presence. The experience offers tools for daily well-being, a deeper appreciation of Japanese spirituality, and a musical keepsake in the form of a CD bestowed as parting gift.