Get in touch with your true spirituality with a Zen stay at a shukubo (temple lodging) on Mt. Koya!

I went to Mt. Koya for a spiritual stay with some international students from Hong Kong who were staying at my house.

Mt. Koya is sacred site of Buddhism: it is the birthplace of Shingon Buddhism. The temples are spread over a 900 m high mountain, and the area was registered as a World Heritage Site in July 2004. On Mt. Koya, there are 53 temple lodgings, or shukubo, where visitors and tourists can stay and have special vegetarian dishes and experience some of the aspects of living in a temple, for example the natural hot springs and the hand-copying of sutras.

The rare opportunity of staying in a priest's living quarters is not one to be missed!

Hand-copying sutras
It costs just JPY 100!
I definitely recommend trying this before you go into the Okuno-in.

[Contact]
Social Section (Shakai-ka), Daishi Kyokai Center
132 Koyasan, Koya Town, Ito-gun, 648-0294 Wakayama Prefecture
Telephone: 0736-56-2015

JAPANiCAN.com's Top 3 Shukubo Temple Lodgings

1. Koyasan Onsen Fukuchiin　　Koyasan, Wakayama

Guestrooms are surrounded by a large garden that was designed by a famous landscape artist. The hot spring (onsen) bath is open 24 hours a day.

2. Hongakuin　　Koyasan, Wakayama

Hogakuin is surrounded by five unique gardens, in the center of some woodlands.
The food here is especially famous.

3. Henjoko-in　　Koyasan, Wakayama

This temple used to be the imperial chamber for Emperor Shirakawa. Here, visitors can see many items on display that have been designated as important national treasures. Visitors can also enjoy rooms facing a bright new garden, each with fusuma (Japanese-style sliding doors) covered with gold dust.


[Access to Mt. Koya]

Nankai Dentetsu Railway Nankai Koya Line from Osaka Namba station to Gokuraku-bashi station. (One and a half hours.)
Transfer to the Nankai Koya-san cable car for Mt. Koya.