About Us

Welcome to Shi-Zen, a Japanese-style meditation shop based in Kanagawa, Japan.

In Japanese, 自(“shi”) means “one’s own” and 禅 (“zen”) refers to the Japanese sect of Buddhism that involves many meditative practices. However, “shizen” can also be written as 自然, meaning “natural”.

Thus, our name reflects both the concept of practicing zen your own way, and also our preference for items made from natural materials.

Our founders Misaki and Chris are not religious, but believe strongly in the benefits derived from many of the meditative practices of zen, especially while surrounded by natural materials —or even better —while outside in nature.

All of the products in our shop are made here in Japan, and we ourselves use them on a daily basis, so we can vouch for their quality.

We hope you will find something that enhances your meditation practice and brings a calming Japanese aesthetic to your space.

Warmly,
Misaki and Chris
Shi-Zen shop owners