About us
Tokyo Meditation Meetup!
Welcome fellow meditators! Join the Tokyo Mindfulness Substack community here to stay updated with events, retreats and guided meditations.
We hold weekly meditation sessions, usually on Tuesday and Thursday nights for one hour. We have regular group meditation sessions focused on meditation in “the buddhist tradition,” without the traditional bowing to statues or chanting. Just sitting and focusing on the breath, body, and mind, for the most part. We also have retreats of varying lengths for those who want to go deeper.
The meditation sessions are suitable for both beginners and more advanced meditators -- I will also indicate which day is reserved for advanced/beginner. Emphasis will be on the development of mindfulness and wisdom, as well as lovingkindness. Chairs and meditation cushions are available. Guidance in these methods is provided in English.
There's also a chance to exchange views and experiences. The point is to have a non-judgmental safe-space to share your experience. If you want to remain silent, that's fine, too.
This group can be a starting point for practicing, discussing or experiencing the dhamma/dharma together and may serve to support your personal practice. :)
Come join us!
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Membership: Our regular sessions are typically 1,000 yen. If you become a paid member of Tokyo Mindfulness for 3,000 yen/month, you get access to ALL of our regular events, as well as discounted and priority access to retreats and special events. Get a membership here.
⚠️ An important note about No-Shows: We have a limited number of space for this event. If you can’t attend, please cancel your RSVP so that others can join. Repeated no-shows will result in you getting kicked out of the group.
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1-1 Mindfulness Coaching
If you are looking to bring mindfulness in your day-to-day life, let go of your ego and overcome burnout, you can book a coaching call with Misha directly here: https://www.mishayurchenko.coach/
Book Recommendations
Hey all, I wanted to share some books about meditation that have been helpful along my journey and that you might find useful as well! I have listed them in order of “easiest to read” starting from the top, where as those towards the bottom of the list are a little bit more heavy.
- Bear Awareness by Ajahn Brahm
- Wherever you go, there you are by Jon Kabat-Zin
- Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield
- Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki
- Radical Acceptance, by Tara Brach
- Waking Up: A guide to Spirituality without religion by Sam Harris
- Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond by Ajahn Brahm
- The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts
- The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa (a very comprehensive guide)
- Focused and Fearless by Shaila Catherine
- Satipatthana Meditation - A practice guide, by Analayo
- Path to Nibbana, by David Johnson (metta practice)
- Manual of Insight, by Mahasi Sayadaw
- Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel Ingram
- Seeing that Frees, by Rob Burbea
And, for thousands of free recorded lectures, talks and meditations from Buddhist teachers all around the world, check out this site: https://dharmaseed.org/
Featured event
The Art of Connection — Half-Day Retreat in Tokyo
If you’ve enjoyed our eye contact and mindfulness events, I’m excited to invite you to a half day of practices to connect at a deeper level on Sep 23rd (autumn equinox/national holiday)!
This is a chance to slow down, let go of fixing, practice being rather than doing, discover more about yourself, and connect with others in a more honest and meaningful way.
We’ll move through a variety of experiential practices, with some short explanations along the way. I’ll also provide a handout so you can take the ideas and practices into your relationships, friendships, work, and daily life.
No prior experience is required — just a willingness to be present, try something a little outside your comfort zone, and share honestly.
📍 Details:
- Location: Location: Nerima Life Center — large tatami room, second floor
- Time: 1:00–6:30 PM (please arrive at 1230pm for check in)
- Cost: ¥5,000 (cash or paypay on the day of)
- Max: 30 people
👁️ What we’ll do
- Ground and arrive — Movement, breathwork and meditation.
- Check in and connect — Notice what’s present and share with the group.
- Explore vulnerability — Movement, mirroring and honest sharing.
- Practice compassion — The Compassion Chair in small groups.
- Cultivate gratitude — Guided meditation and partner practice.
- Close in stillness — Awake awareness meditation and a final sharing circle.
🫶 Agreements
Please read the group agreements beforehand. These help us create a space where everyone can participate at their own pace and feel respected.
🎒 What to bring
- A snack
- Water bottle
- Comfortable clothes
- Journal and pen, if you’d like to take notes
🌱 About your guide
Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified, trauma-informed meditation teacher with 10+ years of experience. He has spent time on retreat around the world and practiced a range of techniques, including a 2-year training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach.
After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he founded Tokyo Mindfulness to help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and work with the
deeper patterns beneath stress, striving, and self-judgment.
His approach is practical and integrated, combining meditation, breathwork, nervous system awareness, and inner healing work.. He is the author of Beyond Calm and lives in Nerima with his family.
💌 Stay Connected
Join our Substack community to get updated with new events, talk to other members and get access to exclusive content.
Upcoming events
5
- ¥5,000.00
The Art of Connection — Half-Day Retreat in Tokyo
Nerima Lifetime Education Center, 6 Chome-8-1 Toyotamakita, Nerima City, Tokyo 176-0012, Tokyo, JPIf you’ve enjoyed our eye contact and mindfulness events, I’m excited to invite you to a half day of practices to connect at a deeper level on Sep 23rd (autumn equinox/national holiday)!
This is a chance to slow down, let go of fixing, practice being rather than doing, discover more about yourself, and connect with others in a more honest and meaningful way.
We’ll move through a variety of experiential practices, with some short explanations along the way. I’ll also provide a handout so you can take the ideas and practices into your relationships, friendships, work, and daily life.
No prior experience is required — just a willingness to be present, try something a little outside your comfort zone, and share honestly.
📍 Details:
- Location: Location: Nerima Life Center — large tatami room, second floor
- Time: 1:00–6:30 PM (please arrive at 1230pm for check in)
- Cost: ¥5,000 (cash or paypay on the day of)
- Max: 30 people
👁️ What we’ll do
- Ground and arrive — Movement, breathwork and meditation.
- Check in and connect — Notice what’s present and share with the group.
- Explore vulnerability — Movement, mirroring and honest sharing.
- Practice compassion — The Compassion Chair in small groups.
- Cultivate gratitude — Guided meditation and partner practice.
- Close in stillness — Awake awareness meditation and a final sharing circle.
🫶 Agreements
Please read the group agreements beforehand. These help us create a space where everyone can participate at their own pace and feel respected.🎒 What to bring
- A snack
- Water bottle
- Comfortable clothes
- Journal and pen, if you’d like to take notes
🌱 About your guide
Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified, trauma-informed meditation teacher with 10+ years of experience. He has spent time on retreat around the world and practiced a range of techniques, including a 2-year training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach.After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he founded Tokyo Mindfulness to help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and work with the
deeper patterns beneath stress, striving, and self-judgment.His approach is practical and integrated, combining meditation, breathwork, nervous system awareness, and inner healing work.. He is the author of Beyond Calm and lives in Nerima with his family.
💌 Stay Connected
Join our Substack community to get updated with new events, talk to other members and get access to exclusive content.13 attendees - ¥4,000.00
Death and Rebirth Sound Bath & Guided Meditation
Yoyogihachiman Community Center, 5-chōme-1-15 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan, Shibuya, JPJoin us on the evening of Thursday October 1st for a special evening of guided meditation, reflection, connection, and sound.
Most of us know intellectually that our time is limited. But we rarely let ourselves really feel what that means. In this Death & Rebirth meditation, I’ll gently invite you to imagine that your time is becoming shorter — first one year, then one month, and eventually your final day.
Along the way, we’ll notice what begins to surface, like the things we keep postponing, conversations we haven’t had, passions we haven’t followed, the apologies or forgiveness left unspoken, and the feelings we’ve pushed away.
The intention isn’t to make you afraid of death but rather it’s to use the awareness of death to become more honest about how we want to live.
The meditation itself will be around 30 minutes and will be guided slowly, with plenty of choice throughout. We’ll also use some gentle parts-work to meet whatever emotions arise with curiosity rather than trying to force anything to happen.
Afterward, you’ll have time to journal, connect with another person, and reflect on what you discovered.
Throughout the journey, Nanako will accompany the meditation with Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, and sound.
📍 Details:
- Location: Yoyogi Hachiman Community Center, 3rd floor
- Date: Thursday October 1st, 6:15pm-9pm
- Price: 4,000 yen (cash or paypay on the day of)
🕰️ The Schedule:
- 6:15pm: Doors Open (please arrive on time as we will close the doors at 630pm!)
- 6:30pm: Start the Guided Meditation & Sound Bath Journey
- 7:30: Journaling what came up for you
- 7:45 - 8:30pm : Pair conversations
- 8:30pm - 9:00pm : Sharing circle and wrap up
🎒 What to Bring:
- Comfortable clothes
- Water / drink
- Journal and pen
- eye mask (optional)
- towel or blanket (optional)
- extra cushions for added comfort (optional)
🌿 Who is this for?
This practice can bring up strong emotions, so I recommend joining if you currently feel relatively grounded and stable in your life and feel curious about exploring mortality in a reflective way.I would probably skip this particular event if you have recently experienced the death of someone close to you, are currently processing a major trauma or crisis, or already feel emotionally overwhelmed or destabilized.
You are always in control of your experience. During the meditation you can open your eyes, sit up, stop visualizing, step outside, or simply listen to the sounds instead.
There is also no expectation to share anything personal afterward. You can participate in the conversations at whatever depth feels appropriate for you.
🧘 About Your Hosts
Misha Yurchenko is a certified mindfulness teacher (MMTCP, Aletheai) based in Tokyo with over a decade of meditation experience. He takes an integrated approach combining meditation, breathwork, and nervous system healing to help people let go of the ego, release old habit patterns and find inner freedom. He is the author of several books and writes about his experiences on Substack.
Nanako Aramaki Born and raised in Canada, Nanako has lived and worked
across three continents, building a diverse career
spanning roles as a former agency COO and flamenco
dancer. After experiencing burnout herself, she was
drawn to create work centred on rest, healing, and care.
As an Advanced Certified Sound Therapist and Brain-
Based Coach, she now supports individuals in slowing
down and reconnecting with themselves.Connect with Tokyo Mindfulness and Stay Updated on Events
Sign up for our Substack
Follow us on Instagram
Website“The mind creates the abyss. The heart crosses it.” - Sri Nisargadatta
9 attendees - ¥3,000.00
🌲 Hike & Meditate in Nature: Ome Trail
Shinjuku Station, 3-chōme-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, JPWe meet at 8:45am at Shinjuku station Sunday, October 4th.
Hey all 🌞 It’s a beautiful time to get together, hike, and meditate in nature. This time we’ll be on one of my favorite trails—the Ome Hills Hiking Course, just 1.5 hours from Shinjuku.
🌿 What we'll be doing:
Many of us have forgotten how to truly listen, feel, and sense the natural world—and why it’s vital to our humanity. Unlike being indoors, meditating in the wild lets you use all of your senses and the living environment itself as a support for presence.
I’ll guide:
- Short nature-based meditations
- Somatic practices (mindful movement, breath, body awareness)
- Group sharing to integrate the experience
This is an easy-to-moderate hike, about 3 hours total, with a stop for bento lunch and meditation. Optional onsen after 🛁
🚫 Digital Detox:
This is a phone-free experience. Please plan to be offline for a few hours. I’ll carry phones in a locked bag and take a few photos for everyone, so you can fully drop into presence.
🕑 The schedule:
- 8:45 am – Meet at Shinjuku Station, South Exit Gate (新宿駅南口). Look for the flower shop (Here's a picture) in front across from a small konbini—I’ll be wearing a black cowboy hat OR a white baseball cap, depending on how I'm feeling that day 🤠
- 9:07 am – Train departs
- 10:00 am – Arrive at Ome and begin hike
- 1:00 pm – Lunch (bring your own bento) + guided meditation & sharing
- ~3:00 pm – Finish hike
- 5:00–6:00 pm – Back in Tokyo
- Optional: Onsen at Kabe Station (2 stops away) before heading home
💴 Price: 3,000 yen. Please bring cash or paypay.
🎒What to bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes 👟
- Warm jacket 🧥
- Water bottle 💧
- Blanket (optional for sitting)
- Your own bento + snacks 🍱
- Hat / sunscreen 🧢
- Change of clothes (if joining onsen)
- A smile 🙂
📞 Contact
If you have any issues day-of, call me at 090-8013-7249. See you then!---
👉**Join the Tokyo Mindfulness Substack community here to stay updated with events, retreats and guided meditations.**
20 attendees - ¥12,500.00
Parts Work: A Full-Day Experiential Retreat and Workshop
Koyama Garden, 3-chōme-1-21 Kōyama, Nerima City, Tokyo 176-0022, Japan, Nerima City, JPJoin us for this full-day workshop and retreat at Koyama Garden to explore your inner landscape through the framework of “parts.”
Parts work is one of the most powerful tools I’ve found for understanding yourself, working with recurring patterns, and moving toward lasting behavioral change. I’ve personally used it over the last few years, and it has been transformational in my life and relationships, and also an unexpected bridge into deeper meditation.
IFS (Internal Family Systems) suggests that the average adult has dozens of different “parts.” These have also been described through other psychological frameworks as ego defenses, schemas, protective strategies, etc. Many of them formed when we were young as ways of protecting us and helping us navigate the world.
For example, a part of you might want to exercise while another part wants to eat junk food. A part of you might be afraid to express yourself, while another really wants to share your truth. A part of you might desperately want to rest, while another part feels guilty whenever you’re not being productive.
Parts often conflict with each other, creating inner polarizations that can lead to indecision, repeating thought loops, and living from fear-driven patterns rather than our deeper wisdom.
What’s important to know is that all of our parts have positive intentions — they are genuinely trying to help us in some way.
Parts work is the practice of learning to listen and dialogue with these parts rather than fighting them. We learn to understand, value, and even love them without conditions. When parts begin to feel heard and seen, they can start to relax, soften, and change in their own time.During this retreat/workshop, we’ll explore several of our own parts through guided meditation, reflection, drawing, movement, conversation, drawing, and pair practices.
One day is short, of course :) But it’s enough to get a real glimpse of this work and learn some powerful tools you can continue using at home, in meditation, and in your relationships.
📍 Details:
- Date & Time: Sunday October 11th, from 10:30 am - 6:30pm (please arrive at 10:15 am to sign in)
- Location: Koyama Garden, Toshimaen
- Price: ¥12,500 (pay by card here)
- Max 12 people
👁️ Schedule
- 10:30 — Opening meditation + introduction to parts
- 11:00 — Understanding your inner system + mapping your parts
- 12:00 — Meeting and dialoguing with a protector part
- 1:00 — Lunch
- 2:00 — Partner parts-work practice + live demonstration
- 3:30 — Exploring inner conflicts and polarizations
- 4:30 — Meeting the more vulnerable/hurt parts beneath our protectors
- 5:30 — Beyond parts: Self, awareness and deeper presence
- 6:10 — Integration + closing circle
- 6:30 — Finish
We’ll take short breaks throughout the day.
🎒 What to Bring:
- A picture of you when you were a kid (printed out)
- Comfortable clothes
- Water bottle
- Journal and pen
- Your own bento lunch (there’s also a konbini nearby)
📝 Liability Waiver
By attending this event, you agree to the Tokyo Mindfulness liability waiver here.
💳 Payment
To complete your RSVP, make your payment here.
Cancellation policy: You can receive a full refund up to 24 hours before the event starts.🫶 Watch Beforehand
It’s helpful to learn a bit about parts-work before the workshop. Here are some recommended videos and readings you can check out (optional!):
- Introduction to Internal Family Systems — Richard Schwartz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdZZ7sTX840
- What is IFS? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNA5qTTxFFA&t=2s
- Book: No Bad Parts — Richard Schwartz. A very accessible introduction to IFS and the idea that even our most difficult parts are trying to help us.
🌱 About Your Guide
Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified, trauma-informed meditation teacher with 10+ years of experience. He has spent time on retreat around the world and practiced a range of techniques, including a 2-year training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and a parts-work integrated approach with Aletheia. After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he founded Tokyo Mindfulness to help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and work with the deeper patterns beneath stress, striving, and self-judgment. He is the author of Beyond Calm and lives in Nerima with his family.
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💌 Stay ConnectedJoin our Substack to get updated with new events, talk to other members and get access to exclusive content. Connect with us via our Whatsapp Community to talk to other members interested in healing, personal growth and spirituality.
2 attendees
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