Wakayama– category –

There is a religious service in the morning in the main hall. You can experience shakyo (copying sutra by hand) and shabutsu (copying images of Buddha by hand). They serve shojin vegetarian cuisine using seasonal ingredients. the morning service was conducted from 6:30.

This shukubo features barrier-free construction. A wheel chair can be lead from the underground parking lot to the inside of the building by an elevator. Another big feature is the shojin vegetarian cuisine. Their creative and positive approach is to always introduce new things, not solely depending on existing items.

The statue of Namikiri Fudo Myoo (an important cultural asset), who is said to have calmed down the rough waves when Kukai was on his way home from To (present China) where he studied Buddhism. The building of this shukubo is pure Japanese style construction.

This temple started when the mother of Priest Kobo lived in Jisonin at Kudoyama at the foot of Mount Koya and built a hut, which was later transferred to Mount Koya. So, this shukubo has such a long history. The Hokumen (faced north) Daishi statue, an important cultural asset, is worth seeing.

The garden is said to be the work of Enshu Kobori. Although small, its scenery is said to be the best on Mount Koya due to its excellent picture painting method. The five rooms on the second floor facing this garden have twin beds.the rooms are blessed with powerful tools to produce relaxation.

This is a shrine registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the center of Kumano worship lasting from the Heian period (794 to 1185). Zuihoden, the shukubo, is located beneath the stone stairs leading up to the main sanctuary of the Kumano-hongu Taisha.

This is a grand ascetic training Mecca around the Nachi-no-Taki waterfall, with a drop of 133 meters. As a sacred place lasting more than 1,600 years, this temple is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The room I stayed in was a 6-tatami mat Japanese style room with a TV set, an electric fan and a yukata robe.