Nara– Temple stay –

Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji temple is an old temple, which is said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku (574 to 622). Senju-in is the oldest among all the temples here. The shukubo is famous for its shojin vegetarian cuisine called Teppatsu, which was very delicious.

Hoonji Temple was founded in 1721. Take a bus for about 20 minutes from Haibara Station, get off at the Ouda bus stop, and then walk for about 10 minutes to reach the temple. Morning services were held in the main hall from 7am. Chanting the sutras together with the head priest left me feeling refreshed.

Asukadera Temple was built in 596 and is Japan's first Buddhist temple. Shutokubo is a 5-minute walk from Asukadera Temple. This shukubo is exclusively for groups and can accommodate 10 or more people. The monk took good care of us and we had a great time.

This is a place of Shugendo opened by practitioners in a mountain. The shukubo serves as a youth hostel in which you share rooms with other people.The head priest and his wife are very frank. When I stayed there, We talked about a lot of things and took pictures together to commemorate the stay.

This shukubo is located in Yoshino, which has been registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gunpoen garden is a kind of pond garden and is said to have been built by Sen-no-Rikyu. As for the meals, they serve kaiseki course meals including sweetfish, tofu and buckwheat noodles, etc. I was quite full after the dinner.

Hotoji Temple is built in an area surrounded by sacred mountains. This is a shukubo with a great view of the mountains from the room windows. You can experience Buddhism through activities such as copying sutras and yoga. There is also a cafe on the premises.

Kouninji Temple was founded between the end of the 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century. There are very few buses going to Kouninji Temple. Dinner was delivered to my room. There was a lot of variety and it was very delicious. The next day, there was a 30-minute service in the hall.

I took a taxi cab from Oji Station. It took about 15 minutes to the parking place below Gyokuzo-in. It was a clean and modern facility and the shukubo staff welcomed me politely. The morning religious service starts from 3:00 in the Yokuyu-do followed by the Goma prayer from a little past five in the morning.

Shigisan Chogosonshi-ji temple is an old temple, which is said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku (574 to 622). Jyohuku-in is located in the precinct mountain. You are free to participate in the services. They serve quasi-shojin cuisine in a kaiseki course style.

This temple is located in Yoshino which prospered as a sacred place of Shugendo. This is a youth hostel, but I was able to have the room all to myself because there were not so many guests when I stayed there in the beginning of June. I had meals upstairs with the other guests.