Overview
Overview
Global Symposium and Course: Human Sciences and The Future of Architecture
August 2026 Japan
New spots are open now to join August program in Kyoto for 6 days (Part 1).
This option is more affordable. Register now.
(Part 2 of the course, with retreat on the Art Islands is sold out.)
Register for the 2nd MB
Japan course in October 2026. You can select Option 1 (6 days in Kyoto) from October 11-16.
DATES
August 2-11, 2026
​
LOCATION
Kyoto, Teshima, Naoshima, Japan
HOSTED BY
Seika University, Kyoto
Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Sociology, and Environmental Psychology applied to Design:
A Global Symposium and Course in Japan
Produced by Moving Boundaries
Exploring Life-Centered Architecture and Landscape Design in Kyoto and the Art Islands: Teshima and Naoshima
​
Lectures, Masterclasses, Hands-On Workshops, Social Events and Networking Dinners, Craft Experiences, Expert-led Tours: Visit temples, shrines, ancient Zen gardens and modern masterpieces: Art museums and churches by Tadao Ando, Pritzker-Prize winning Japanese architect based in Osaka.
See program below
Program Summary
We have just opened new spots for the Kyoto 6-day portion of the Moving Boundaries Global Symposium and Course in Japan, scheduled for August 2026. Register now to join the Program in Kyoto. The program on the Art Islands (following Kyoto) is sold out. We have created a second on-site course, scheduled for October 2026 in the same locations. You may still register to attend this 2nd course, in person. Select Option 1 (6 days in Kyoto), which is more affordable, or Option 2 (full 9.5 day program in three locations: Kyoto, Teshima, Naoshima). See the Japan Oct 2026 tab at the top of this site. More Information about the MB August Program: The August 2026 course will take place between August 2-11 in Kyoto, Japan and on the two "Art Islands", Teshima and Naoshima. We will live for several days in Kyoto, and after we will travel to the islands, to stay on Teshima Island, where we will be immersed in nature and sacred history and rituals. We will be joined by 12 global experts in human sciences, cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, health disciplines, architecture, architectural history and theory, philosophy, urban and landscape design, and in design of sacred spaces and gardens. In addition to faculty experts (including local specialists from Japan, to be added to the faculty group in several months), we will be joined by participants from multiple disciplines, from more than 35 countries. You will experience dialogical lectures, masterclasses, workshops, social events and networking opportunities, special dinners, somatic (including onsen, spa, meditation) experiences, local craft experiences, and unique guided field trips and architecture/garden tours. Lodging will be in central Kyoto and in several hotels and BnB's on Teshima Island, near the sea. There will be an all-day field trip, by ferry, on Naoshima Island, where we will visit several museums designed by Tadao Ando. In addition to studying at the interface of human sciences, design and health (as is the custom at MB), we will also experience local rituals, history, cuisine, arts, craft, nature immersion, and tours throughout the 10-day course, conference and retreat. All participants will be invited to present during the conference and to contribute to the post-conference publication.
The MB Japan Global Symposium and Course will be developed in conversations and panel discussions with faculty between September 2025 and March 2026. By June 2026, the course learning goals and all lecture abstracts will be posted on this website. See this web page, below, for the daily schedule, list of confirmed faculty members, lecture program, and the list of tours and immersive experiences. Also follow MB in social media for updates: @movingboundaries (Instagram) Moving Boundaries Collaborative (LinkedIn)
Phenomenon of Place: Design for Health and Wellbeing
​
Human Sciences and the Future of Architecture and Landscape Design
Click button to register to attend in person, during Part 1 of the Program in Kyoto (6 Days). New spots are open in the Kyoto Program.
The full 9.5 day Program with visits on the Art Islands is sold out.
Tuition Prices for On-Site Attendance:
​
OPTION 1: Part 1 in Kyoto (6 days)
New spots are open
Professional: $1,480
Fulltime grad student: $980
​
OPTION 2: Parts 1+2 Full Program in Kyoto and on the Art Islands Teshima and Naoshima (9.5 days) - this option is SOLD OUT for our August Program.
Professional: $2,400
Fulltime grad student: $1,800
​
​Cannot join in person? See prices for remote tickets for our online course, below.
Location: Kyoto, Japan
August 2-7, 2026
Topics: Neurophenomenology; Memory and placemaking; Mirror neurons and empathy in design; Restorative places for human health and wellbeing; Somatic design; Body-conscious design; Forest bathing and the 7 Strategies of landscape design for health; Wayfinding and navigation; Grounding in nature; Spiritual architecture and design for the 21st Century - learning from ancient wisdom; Bridging human sciences and design.
MB Japan Faculty: Please see below for photos and biographies of the faculty; Participants are also invited to present during (selected) afternoon lecture sessions at Seika University.
August 2 (Pre-MB Day)
Early Morning Zazen Meditation
(Optional) 6:00-8:00am at
Enko-ji Temple (pre-register)
​
Evening gathering
Pre-MB get together at central hotel, later in Gion District (meet the community) small group dinners
August 3 (Day 1)
​
Seika University Check-In at 9:00am
Northern Kyoto venue: Arrive between 9:00-9:30am to check in and receive your name badge, meet the group for coffee before lectures
​
Welcome Speeches at 10:00am
(Seika Main Hall)
​
Participants' Introductions
Coffee Break
Alberto Pérez-Gómez
Lecture 1
​
Lunch in Main Gallery; Networking Session
​
Vittorio Gallese
Lecture 2, followed by Panel Discussion and Q&A
​
(Optional this afternoon)
Travel to Kurama-dera Monastery
​Evening get-together at hotel
​
August 4 (Day 2)​
​
Morning Temple Visits
Eikan-do Temple; Ginkaku-ji Temple
​
WELCOME LUNCH (complimentary) (address shared later), Kyoto City Center 1:00-3:00pm
​
Sarah Williams Goldhagen
Lecture 3
​
Colin Ellard
Lecture 4
August 5​ (Day 3)
​
Morning Temple Visits
Tofuku-ji Temple; Fushimi-nari Taisha Walk
​Lunch on one's own; See outdoor Art Museum by Tadao Ando
Galen Cranz
Lecture 5
Hugo Spiers
Lecture 6
​
Evening Izakaya Experience, followed by Gion District visit
​
August 6​ (Day 4)
​
Free Day - Recommended Trips: Osaka, Nara, or explore other districts in Kyoto
​
August 7 (Day 5)
​
Morning Temple Visits
Tenryu-ji Temple and Garden; Myoshin-ji Temple complex; Ryoan-ji Temple
​
Lunch on one's own
​
Louise Pelletier
Lecture 7
​
Panel Discussion and Q&A ​​
​
Evening: free time and pack for trip to the Art Islands on Aug.8
Faculty August 2026
(Faculty roster subject to change)
Team
Join us online
Get our Livestream Pass and have Remote Access to the Lectures
We have early-bird prices to help you join the MB Japan Global Symposium and Online Course in Aug '26 at very affordable rates.
You can get your ticket now by selecting one of the options below.
What’s included:
- Live access to all lectures during 6 days, from August 3-11, 2026 (except free day Aug.6 and the 'travel days' Aug.8 and 11);
- Realtime captioning and translation of zoom into multiple languages;
- Live access to Q&A and Panel Discussions
- Participate in facilitated breakout sessions to share ideas and questions about symposium themes; Share your work (optional)
- Pre-Course Remote Meeting scheduled for June/early July 2026, for all remote participants; Facilitated by course director and selected faculty members
- Post-Symposium free access, with your own password, to recorded sessions (videos) for 6 months after the program ends;
- Digital Certificate of Participation signed by MB director and faculty, emailed to you after the Symposium
- Access to the MB Online Campus Library; Access to MB Alumni Free Resources
- Access to Webinar Series before and after the MB Japan Course
- Access to the Community Forum for the MB Japan Online Course;
- Access to a curated digital resource pack from the speakers, including lecture abstracts, proceedings, and authors' information
​
Who is this for?
Architects, designers, scientists, health professionals, artists, historians, psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, landscape designers, educators, students and others who cannot attend MB Japan in person but want to join the lectures and conversations remotely. In addition, you will have access to a variety of free resources and to video recordings of all lectures and discussions, for 6 months after the course ends. Everyone will receive a signed Certificate of Completion.
​
About prices: Please find four remote ticket options below
We offer early-bird prices for MB Japan remote tickets, until Jan.2026. The regular ticket price (early-bird) is $480 for lectures/discussions during 6 course days. In addition, we are offering special discounted ticket prices for fulltime students and for people living in Latin America and SAARC countries including India and others. Please browse through the ticket options below until you find the category that applies to you. If you order a discounted remote ticket for Latam residents (Latin America), for Saarc residents, or for fulltime students, the MB team will follow up with an email, asking for a student ID/email, or for a copy of your resident card or passport photo page, to confirm residence. We hope that you will find these discounted prices helpful and affordable, to allow you to learn during and after the MB Japan course. Our aim is to make MB programming accessible to all.