Kyoto– category –

Chisyaku-in is the head mountain of the Chisan school of the Shingon sect. Morning service, about 50 to as many as 150 priests chanted the sutra loudly to the sound of Kei (a board like a percussion instrument), which produces a very refreshing atmosphere.

This is a shukubo located inside the precinct of Sennyu-ji temple in southern Kyoto. From 7:00, they conduct morning service followed by a sermon. After chanting the Heart Sutra, the head priest gave a sermon. The head priest and his wife were nice and it was a comfortable place to stay.

This is a shukubo located near Nishijin and alongside the Horikawa River in Kyoto. You are free to participate in the morning service. They have no bath, so you have to use the public bath. The people at Myorenji temple were very frank and they told me a lot of things before I left.

This is a women-only shukubo. You are free to participate in the services and the sermon (about half an hour). If you are alone, you may have to share a room with someone else in the busy season.The room I stayed in faces the garden, which allows you to sit and appreciate the beautiful garden to your heart's content.

This shukubo is located in the precinct of Myoshin-ji temple, which is famous for the Japanese garden called Aun-tei. The building is made of timber and allows you to feel that you are really staying in a temple. The morning service was conducted in the main hall from six to seven.

This shukubo is located inside the precinct of Ninna-ji temple, a World Heritage Site. The biggest charm here is the morning service. You are able to spend a solemn time in the morning in the main hall, a national treasure that is usually not open to sightseers.

This shukubo is located in the precinct of Kosho-ji temple next to Nishihongan-ji temple. It is close to Kyoto station and is convenient for sightseeing. The morning service was conducted by two priests and five believers only. It was a good experience.

Chion-in is the head temple of Jodo-shu and is famous for the world’s largest wooden gate, the umbrella left by Jingoro Hidari and the nightingale corridor. At the shukubo, the morning service was more impressive than anything else. The shukubo itself is a modern reinforced concrete building.

Nanzen-ji temple is the head temple of the Nanzen-ji school, Rinzai sect. It is one of the largest classes of temples in Kyoto, which ranks it above the five temples in Kyoto. It seems that a young priest is managing the lodging alone. He treated me with adequate hospitality and I was able to stay comfortably.

This is a shukubo of a small temple located on a mountain in Ohara. The highly reputed shojin vegetarian cuisine won't betray your expectations. I was able to experience shakyo (copying sutra by hand) after diner, followed by zazen the next morning.