Who are we?
-"Nobody".
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But... Who are you?
Whether you are a solo traveler, or a couple looking for answers to your questions about Zen,
Whether you're a group of friends interested in learning more about Japan and the philosophies that have shaped it,
Whether you are a family with children, young or old, in search of a rare and singular experience,
Kōshōji's mon (great cloister portal) is open to you.
Writer
Pierre Taïgu Turlur
Taigu, "the huge idiot" as his masters baptized him, wrote several books on Zen including "Apprivoiser l’éveil" ("Taming awakening") and "La Saveur de la lune" at Albin Michel and "S’éveiller à sa véritable nature" ("Awaken to your true nature") at Almora.
Poet, he also published a collection of haiku at L'Harmattan. Essayist, he is also a musician and is passionate about theater and close-up magic.
Pierre Taïgu Turlur
Facebook page
Interview by
Almora Editions
Some works by Pierre Taïgu Turlur (Albin Michel)
Interview by the "NeverMind" Channel
A teacher &
Master appreciated by all
In addition to his books, Pierre is an active teacher, sharing his passion for literature and philosophy at the International French School of Kyōto and the Franco-Japanese Institute of Kansai.
Official website of
Int Fr School of Kyoto
Sangha of mountains and clouds
Franco-Japanese Institute of Kansai
Pierre is also active in a sangha, a Buddhist community, where he shares his teachings with hundreds of students around the world. He is a regular contributor to specialized magazines and leads meditation retreats in the United States and Europe.
With or without children :
Zen and magic
could go hand in hand
Magic possesses a unique double force:
That of bringing everyone together around a moment of wonder, and of awakening the child within us.
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He has never worked in a school before, but this latter is reaching out to him. The pandemic is still hitting, and Japan goes into slow motion. He loses his job as a travel salesman and multi-skilled worker in a ryokan. He dreams of creating guided activities and sharing his passion for Japan.
Our encounter
This guided activity is first and foremost that of an encounter.
It is also that of a wonder.
Winter 2022, a young man, the one who is writing these lines to you, enters the International French School of Kyōto, for a job interview.
Through a loose and impromptu exchange in the middle of a school corridor, this boy met Pierre Turlur. He teaches literature and philosophy at French school, but at the time, the young boy could only catch a glimpse of a madman, a sage, a poet and above all, a magician.
Magic, Sharing &
Love for Japan
A piece that appears, transforms and disappears. That, in a nutshell, is the summary of our encounter.
This shared passion for prestidigitation, oriental philosophy and Japan led Pierre and I, a year and a half after our meeting, to give birth to this guided activity you are reading about today.
After a hotel school, I joined the Hospitality Management MBA of ESSEC Business School, which led me to hold several positions in catering, sales and guest relation-related jobs within palaces of the French capital Paris, as well as in Bora-Bora, China and of course Japan.
Who is Beny?
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IMHI MBA from Essec Business School
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5 years of experience in luxury hotels
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Guide-interpreter 🇯🇵 🇫🇷 🇬🇧
In addition to an abundant experience of custom trip design in Kyōto, I had the chance to guide several hundreds of visitors through my city, but also in Nara, Ōsaka, Sakai, Kōyasan or Himeji. Unknown to mass tourism, I would like to promote the charms of Ōtsu and Uji, where Kōshōji is located.
What motivates me above all is to connect people.
Fascinated by the history of Asia and Cipango, I now became a Japanese teacher at the French School of Kyoto, and regularly take part in interpreting and guiding gigs throughout the Kansai region.
Accompanied guests
Who is Kikkawa Rōshi?
Zen Master & Chief Abbot of Kōshōji
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Kikkawa Enryō, whose real name is Kikkawa Rōshi (Old Master) to his disciples, became chief abbot of Kōshōji temple after a service in Eiheiji. A bon vivant who is happy to meet foreign travellers in his cloister, he will be delighted to greet you when you visit.
Who are the monks
of Kōshōji?
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800 years since the founding of Kōshōji
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400 years since its establishment in Uji
Perpetuating the tradition of study and meditation bequeathed by grandmaster Dōgen, the monks of Kōshōji welcome you.
Who better than one of them, furthermore, an English-speaking one, to help you understand and appreciate the archipelago's oldest Sōtō Zen cloister?
Official Youtube
Channel of the
Kōshōji temple
Official website
of Kōshōji
Walk to Kōshōji
("The Kyoto~ Kyoto Walking
Entertainment" Channel)
