Guide to Japanese Temple Stay & Shukubo Lodging

Looking for a special lodging or a temple stay experience in Japan? Whether seeking a tranquil retreat or just curious about the daily routine of a monk, check out this shukubo (Japanese temple stay) guide to make the most of your refreshing Japan tour - sleep with the smell of incense and cedar, and wake up by the warbling birds and bonsho bells - it is time for a real From Five to Nine experience!

Can I Stay in a Japanese Buddhist Temple

Exactly! Actually, an overnight stay (or more) in Japan's Buddhist temple is quite a common experience, not only for monks in their practice or pilgrimage, but also for visitors without practising Buddhism (People of all faiths and origins are welcome).

Temple stay in Japan is also known as shukubo, the temple lodging facilities which were first only open to monks and worshippers for their long journey, gradually opening their gates for more general travelers, including international visitors curious about the simple lifestyle of monks, and now a semi-secularized accommodation with various stays to experience.

So, Can I Stay in Japanese Shrines

Unfortunately, there is seldom accommodation to stay in shrines (even for their staff), making a quite interesting scenery - most Buddhist monks will return to their lodging in or around the temple after the day's work, while shrine mikos will change back into their normal clothes and go home, apart from the priest's family members.

Morning Praying in Japanese Temple

Is It Worth Staying in Japan's Temple

For my answer? Of course yes. Apart from its unique overnight experience to offer, I would like to take it as a part of Japan's cultural experience, worth your slow and careful bite.

With one or two nights in the mountain temple, you can simply take advantage of its tranquility to relax the nerves of your insomnia, or just take it as a bridge to your next sightseeing point, to the sacred Koyasan or temples dotted in fall colors.

Beyond lodging, follow the Buddhist monk's austere lifestyle from morning prayer to meditation, put your worries aside to find your inner peace and a clear mind, embrace nature again, and take a glimpse of the true Zen moment. Japan's temple stay is an ideal escape from the busy pace of city life, a temporary farewell to troubles and stress.

Note: Most temple lodgings in Japan are traditional ryokan rooms with tatami beds, which may not be that friendly to your back and knees. Also, suite rooms with private bathrooms are usually popular and limited; book in advance or just leave it to Odynovo to manage your Japan shukubo itinerary.

Meditation With Monk

What to Expect for a Temple Stay Experience in Japan

Let's start with your entry - welcome to this peaceful healing space to refine your heart!

First is the retreat lodging in a serene atmosphere, surrounded by traditional rocky gardens where you can admire their cleverly designed setting with a simple slide to the fusuma doors.

Relax in your tatami room, then enjoy the delicate shojin ryori, a kind of vegan cuisine in small dishes, freshly made from temple-grown seasonal vegetables and mountain plants with rich protein (alcohol may not be available in some temples).

Shojin Ryori

If there is still some time before curfew, try a simple meditation in a Japanese garden, stroll around the temple to get some fresh air with torodo lanterns, or join the special night tour to Okunoin if your shukubo is in Koyasan!

For the next day, you can get up early (or just skip it for your beauty sleep) to join the morning devotions, including prayers, chanting, or making a simple offering at the altar with incense.

More temple activities also include yoga, flower arrangement, sutra copying, and zazen meditation to reach a deeper spiritual heritage, even the "waterfall meditation" that is usually shown in drama or animation. Since each temple has its own different experience to offer, just pick your interest to join in.

Note: If you are looking for a longer temple stay experience in Japan, switching to another temple to sample their variety is a good idea after your one or two-night stay.

Where to Take Temple Lodging in Japan

Koyasan - the most popular choice & English available

The sacred Mount Koya is home to more than 50 temple lodgings for various experiences, always the top choice for your shukubo experience in Japan - most monks there are accustomed to foreign guests and fluent in English. You can also join Koyasan's night tour of Okunoin Cemetery, another way to witness the holy and beautiful.

Eko-in, the most popular one with 1,200 years of history, offers a more luxurious temple stay in Koyasan, a delicate lodging with hot springs and larger rooms. You can join its special morning Goma fire ritual with healing power.

• Access: about a 1.5-hour drive from Osaka
• Best for: history lovers & long-term visitors

Stone Statues Along the Path to Okunoin Cemetery

Kakurinbo - crafting & wedding kimono dressing

With an easy arrival from Tokyo, Kakurinbo is an 800-year-old temple located on Mount Minobu. Apart from those classic temple activities, a temple stay in Kakurinbo offers more handmade experiences to craft your unique souvenirs.

From making onigiri rice balls to udon ramen cooking class, from carving an inkstone to designing a personal seal, even those traditional washi paper and dharma doll, best for family visitors or couples to spend their intimate time - there is also the wedding kimono dressing experience for your special honeymoon choices with blessing from Bhudda!

• Access: about a 2.5-hour drive from Tokyo
• Best for: family visitors & couples

Shoureki-ji - tailored experience with gamecock cuisine

What makes Shoureki-ji special is the dish sets it has to offer - not only the vegetarian dishes, but also the fish set and even a full course of gamecock! Right meet their contemplations on food - Recognizing the dignity of life, and gratefully receiving it to live more meaningful days.

Apart from its big feast, you can also try some special activities here, from playing Buddhist musical instruments to drawing Goshuin inscriptions, as well as the summer fun - nagashi-soumen, eating noodles cooled by flowing water in a bamboo chute.

• Access: about a 1.5-hour drive from Kyoto
• Best for: family visitors & foodies

Seikoku-ji - cherry blossoms & western-Japanese fusion room

Located on Mount Yoshino, a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Nara, Seikoku-ji provides an ultimate spring day experience for your temple stay in Japan. Imagine your morning meditation surrounded by sakura blossoms, fresh air, and the melodious chirping of birds. Enjoy your night stroll beneath the clear galaxy and the tranquil atmosphere of rural Japanese villages and the countryside.

For another great news, Seikoku-ji has a familiar flavor of hotel experience - with more western-Japanese fusion rooms paired with showers and elevated bed frames, making an easy temple stay option in Japan.

• Access: about a 2-hour drive from Osaka or Nara
• Best for: family & senior visitors

Yoshinoyama in Spring

How Long to Stay in a Japanese Temple

Usually, a 1 or 2-night stay in the temple is enough for some shukubo essentials, as well as some extra time to enjoy the mountains or surroundings. Take the popular Koyasan temple stay as an example: you can stay there for at least 2 days and 1 night, one day for the Koyasan exploration, and one day to relax soundly at the shukubo lodging.

Though a long-term stay is also available for your detailed taste, from the week-long to half-monthly, temple hopping after your stay is a more recommended choice.

Note: The ideal 1 or 2 day duration also makes it also a popular weekend getaway for locals. If possible, book in advance or search for weekday bookings for more choices and a better lodging experience.

How Much Does a Temple Stay Cost in Japan

Ranging from ¥10,000 to ¥50,000 (about 70 to 350 USD) per person per night, according to the various temple services they offer, from standard to some premium or luxury.

Simple Packing List for Your Shukubo Experience in Japan

• Easy to put on and take off shoes for your convenience in and out.
• Pairs of soft socks to cover your feet, which are also a good buffer for walking on the wooden floors.
• Light coat and long trousers to cover the skin and avoid the cold.
• Earplugs for your sound sleep - poor sound insulation? Too quiet to ignore the noise!
• Small changes for donating incense or buying temple souvenirs to support operations.

Shukubo Tips for Temple Stay in Japan

• Use this kind of special lodging humbly, since they are still the sacred places of spiritual practice - keep down your voice, be modest to staff and statues, and keep the curfew in mind. Most importantly, ask before your photography.
• Request a chair if you are uncomfortable kneeling during the temple ceremony.
• It is OK to skip some activities if you are not interested. Just leave quietly if you are physically exhausted in the middle of the morning session.
• Download the translation app for emergencies (Wifi is available in most temple lodgings).

Book Your Shukubo Temple Stay in Japan With Odynovo

Grab your luggage and ride the mountain bus to the deep forest, take a temple stay in Japan as a journey to meet yourself again. Meditate in the garden with the echo of the Japanese bamboo fountain, and relax yourself to catch the spirit of Zen with the rising sun. For another way to recognize your true self and the country, please feel free to contact us for your temple stay in Japan.