Kansai– Temple stay –

Syojoshinin is located by the entrance of the approach to the back of the temple. It has a very nice appearance. In the morning service, they chant a sutra with unique tones, which was very interesting. After the service, they let us see a hidden Buddha image. They say that it is a privilege for the shukubo guests only.

The garden is said to be made of Enshu Kobori. It is the oldest Tsuru-Kame type garden (whose pond has two islands; one for a turtle and the other for a crane) on Mount Koya. The menu includes Mount Koya's special shojin vegetarian cuisine, Iroha plates unique to Hozen-in and sesame tofu, their specialty.

This shukubo features a full-fledged morning service and quiet time because they do not have TVs in the guestrooms. The head priest gave his lecture in English. There was also a nun who had a good command of English. It seems that they are used to foreign visitors.

They serve authentic shojin vegetarian foods consisting mainly of mountain foods, including sesame tofu, a specialty of Mount Koya. If you make a reservation, you can eat a special plate. Also, the beautiful vermilion-lacquered Fugenin Shikyakumon　in the Shikyaku-hirakaramon style is an important cultural asset.

They serve shojin vegetarian cuisine. If you request it, sake will be served. You are able to participate in the morning service. They welcome people traveling alone.

The curfew is 22:00. There are many things to see, including a beautiful garden larger than 6,600 square meters and a carved wooden tiger made by Jingoro Hidari. Also being close to Oku-no-in, it is convenient to go worshipping. They serve Koya-tofu as well.

It is a wooden temple with a calm atmosphere surrounded by a vast garden. The front garden of eight-leaf laurel was created by Osamu Mori, a famous gardener in the Modern Age. They served shojin vegetarian cuisine, which tasted very good. You can participate in the service, which starts at 7:00 in the morning.

The temple was named after the fact that the bones of Tentokuin, the wife of Toshiie Maeda, a famous feudal warrior, were enshrined here. It has a Japanese garden designed by Enshu Kobori. You are able to appreciate this beautiful garden from the guest rooms made of Japanese cypress built in Shoin style.

They serve shojin vegetarian cuisine. They have a morning service. This shukubo has the sad love-story of Takiguchi Nyudo and Yokobue. The “Uguisu-no-Ido” (Nightingale’s well) and “Uguisu-no-Ume” (Nightingale’s plum) related to this sad story still remain in the garden.

You can experience training. The training includes sutra chanting, shakyo (copying sutra by hand), shabutsu (copying images of Buddha by hand), zazen (meditation) and cleaning (of the garden, the corridors and the rooms). They serve shojin vegetarian cuisine.