[Kyoto] Enjoy next-generation experiences such as an android Kannon and an avatar tea ceremony at Kodaiji Temple, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Nene rest in peace!

What are the three programs that will add color to the Japan International Art Festival?

The Japan International Art Festival is a new international art festival that will be held in conjunction with the 2025 World Expo (Osaka/Kansai Expo). The main events planned for this year's Japan International Art Festival are three special experience programs held at temples and shrines in Kyoto City.

This year, special experience programs will be available at three temples: Mitarasennuji, Ninnaji, and Kodaiji.

In this program, areas that are usually closed to the public are specially opened to the public in the early morning and at night. A producer was assigned to each of the three temples and shrines to create a unique experience for inbound tourists that combines the past and the future.

Among the limited special programs that can only be experienced at this year's Japan International Art Festival, in this article we will introduce the "Special Tea Ceremony Hosted by Avatars and Android Kannon Sermon Experience" program to be held at Kodaiji Temple.

What kind of program is it?

There are two different programs held at Kodaiji Temple, one in the early morning and one at night. Both programs include meals using seasonal Kyoto vegetables, a tea ceremony hosted by an avatar, and a Minder Kannon experience.

The program is being overseen by Hiroshi Ishiguro, the project producer for the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The program is planned to fuse the near future with traditional experiences, with the theme of "expanding life."

The main experience is a tea ceremony program where avatars dressed in twelve-layered kimonos entertain guests. Kogetsuan, one of the tea houses at Kodaiji Temple, is rented out for the event, and tea ceremonies are held with 10 participants each time.

In a normal tea ceremony, the host, or "host," is the center of the event, but in this program, an avatar dressed in a twelve-layered kimono is projected on the screen and takes charge of the tea ceremony.

You can have an experience that can only be had at Kodaiji Temple, such as learning tea ceremony etiquette with your avatar and enjoying sweets.

During the 40-minute Minder Kannon experience, a Buddhist scripture known as the Heart Sutra will be preached. The teachings of Buddha are explained in words that are easy for people of today to understand, along with projection mapping.

The more you look at it, the more mysterious and fascinating it becomes, allowing you to experience meaningful time with the android Kannon.

The evening program also includes time for you to freely stroll around the illuminated Kodaiji Temple. With a full hour of free time, you can enjoy a luxurious evening stroll.

The early morning program runs from 8:00 to 10:50, and the evening program runs from 17:00 to 21:00. Each program is limited to 10 participants, so there are no crowds and everyone can have a rich experience.

Reservations for the "Special Tea Ceremony Hosted by Avatars and Android Kannon Sermon Experience" to be held for five days on November 12th (Tue), 13th (Wed), 14th (Thu), 15th (Fri), and 17th (Sun), 2024, can be made via the link below.

Click here to book or check the details of the program

What kind of temple is Kodaiji Temple?

The venue for the "Special Tea Ceremony Hosted by Avatars and Android Kannon Sermon Experience" is Kodaiji Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. It can be reached in about 40 minutes by city bus or 15 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station.

Kodaiji Temple was founded in 1606 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife, Nene (Kita no Mandokoro), to mourn his father. The temple has suffered several fires, and the Buddhist altar and abbot's quarters were destroyed, but the main gate, Kaisan-do Hall, mausoleum, teahouse, Kasatei Pavilion, Shigure-tei Pavilion, and moon-viewing platform, all of which are designated Important Cultural Properties, remain to this day.

During his lifetime, Hideyoshi and his wife Nene were famous for being tea ceremony lovers and held tea ceremonies quite frequently. As a result, in addition to Kogetsuan, the venue for this event, Kodaiji Temple has many tea houses remaining, including the Kasatei and Shiguretei, which retain their original form from the time of their construction.

This program includes a special itinerary, such as a stroll around the illuminated Kodaiji Temple and an avatar tea ceremony that gives a glimpse into Hideyoshi's love of tea.

Here are the highlights of this experience program!

The highlight of the Kodaiji experience is the exclusive tea ceremony hosted by avatars and a meal in Maruyama Park.

The tea ceremony, which is limited to 10 people per session, will be conducted not by people but by original 12-layered avatars. In addition to Japanese, English and Chinese subtitles are available, so foreign visitors can make reservations with peace of mind.

For both early morning and evening plans, meals are served at "Kyoto Cuisine Isobe" located in Maruyama Park.

The meal menu will differ between the morning and evening experiences, but with either plan, you can enjoy the Kyoto cuisine that Isobe confidently recommends.

You can get to "Kyoto Cuisine Isobe" from Kodaiji Temple by minibus, so you can enjoy the feeling of taking a short trip.

Kodaiji Temple program time schedule

The "Special Tea Ceremony Hosted by Avatars and Android Kannon Sermon Experience" will be held at the World Heritage Site Ninna-ji Temple for five days from November 12th (Tue), 13th (Wed), 14th (Thur), 15th (Fri), and 17th (Sun), 2024.

The early morning plan, which finishes in the morning, and the overnight plan, which allows you to enjoy the luxury of plenty of time from the evening onwards, have fixed times and are easy to incorporate into your travel plans.

The program fee per person is 70,000 yen (excluding tax) for the early morning program and 100,000 yen (excluding tax) for the evening program. The program is limited to 10 people per session, for a total of 100 people.

The experience schedule for the day is as follows:

early morning

8:00 Experience start

8:00-9:00 Meal + transportation (microbus)

9:00-9:40 Special viewing (guided tour)

9:40-10:10 Avatar-hosted tea ceremony experience

10:10-10:50 Minder Kannon experience

Nighttime

17:00 Experience start

17:00-17:40 Minder Kannon experience

17:40-18:10 Avatar-hosted tea ceremony experience

18:10-19:10 Free time to explore (during illumination)

19:10-21:00 Travel (microbus) + meal

You can check availability and make reservations for special programs below.

Click here to book or find out more about the program

summary

The special program will be held in mid-November, which is the peak time for viewing the red autumn leaves. In addition to the nighttime illuminations, you can also enjoy the quietness of Kodaiji Temple in the early morning.

Why not check out this special experience where you can enjoy the history of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wife, Nene, as well as their food culture, all at once?