We’re run entirely by volunteers.
Since 1998, Hakone Zendo has offered free meditation to the community. Everything, from setting up the zendo on Sunday mornings to answering your emails, is done by volunteers, and supported by donations from people who sit with us.
Our roots
Hakone Zendo was founded in 1998 by Rev. Enyu Ito in the Rinzai Zen tradition. Over the years we’ve grown into a zazen-kai, a community sitting group, and we still sit the way Rev. Ito taught us. And just as Rev. Ito restored the Upper House when he opened the zendo, we’re now helping to restore it again. Read our history →
Our practice
We meet every Sunday morning in the Upper House, on the slopes of Moon Viewing Hill at Hakone Estate and Gardens in Saratoga, CA. Surrounded by the garden, it’s a peaceful place to sit and reflect. Through zazen, we hope to help people find clarity in their lives and grow in wisdom and compassion, so they can meet everyday challenges with a steadier mind.
Our Leadership
In 2024, we finalized the establishment of Hakone Zendo as a non-profit charitable organization 501(c)(3). Our mission is to advocate for and facilitate access to Zen meditation, mindfulness, and associated contemplative practices for individuals in Northern California.
Officers and Board of Directors
All officers also serve on the Board of Directors.
Kaz Kihara (Kosai)
President and Chair of the Board
Practicing Zen since 2010, Kaz co-leads weekly Zazen guidance at the Upper House alongside Ann Rice. As a corporate executive and Ironman triathlete, he actively integrates mindfulness into work, endurance training, and daily living. He currently serves as president and board chair of Hakone Zendo, where he is dedicated to cultivating compassionate and responsive leadership.
Aaron Graham
Treasurer
A dedicated practitioner since 2014, Aaron first discovered Zen practice at Hakone Zendo after living in Japan for two years. As Treasurer for the non-profit organization, he balances essential financial management with a hands-on approach to daily operations. Working closely alongside Kaz, Aaron is committed to supporting the community and ensuring the zendo remains a welcoming, smoothly run space for all visitors.
Taylor Souter
Secretary
Other Board Members
- Chris Balough
- Lakshmi Jagannathan
Board Advisor
Rev. Ann Rice (Shingetsu Meido)
Advisor to the Board
Ann began sitting at Rinzai Hakone Zendo around 2002 as a student of Rev. Enyu Ito, and has been training in the Soto tradition since 2010 at Middle Way Zen and the San Francisco Zen Center. Formally ordained in 2016, she brings a deep well of experience to the zendo, skillfully translating traditional insights into accessible, everyday mindfulness. Beyond the cushion, Ann fosters community learning and connection by guiding the zendo’s book club.
