Shikoku? Temple stay ?

A train runs through the precinct of this temple. They offer shukubo accommodation as well as a youth hostel. This shukubo is really clean. As there were four women pilgrims traveling alone, we shared a large room together. A male guest and a couple were using the small rooms.

This shukubo was very good. The room was clean and the facilities, such as the bath and the washing machine, were complete. As small as it was, I was able to use a room all to myself and the meal was also gorgeous. The morning service was conducted in the main hall, which was connected to the shukubo by a corridor.

There are various treasures displayed in Houmotsu-kan: a stone Nyoirin Kannon (Cintamani-cakra) , sitting Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaisajyaguru) and a statue of standing Gakko Bosatsu (Candraprabha), which are all designated as important cultural assets. There is also a cave where the young Priest Kobo pursued ascetic training.

It is famous as a temple to drive out evil luck. The shukubo is a reinforced concrete building. I was very grateful because they let me use a large room by myself. I ate in the dining room which also served as a restaurant. There was a religious service in the morning in the temple.

The principal image is “Yaoi-no-Jizo” (a statue of a Jizo hit by an arrow) which is said to have been carved by Kobo-Daishi. It is designated as an important cultural asset in Japan. The shukubo is a reinforced concrete building.

The room was a 4.5 tatami mat Japanese-style room with air conditioning and a TV set. The sizes of the rooms vary. They served shojin vegetarian cuisine for dinner. I hear that the memorial service is usually conducted in the evening. In general, it was a clean, comfortable and friendly shukubo.

It was an eight tatami mat room equipped with air conditioning and a TV. It can be locked as well. Dinner was served in the dining room. Although it was not shojin vegetarian cuisine as they served slices of raw fish, etc., as well, it was delicious. The service was conducted from 6:00 in the morning.

Syosan-ji temple is located on the top of a mountain and is a tough point called “Henro Korogashi” (Rolling the Pilgrims). The guestroom was an eight tatami mat room. When it is crowded, you will have to share a room with others. They conduct religious services starting at 6:00 in the morning.

I felt pleased to see that everything here was well cleaned. There was a religious service in the morning. It was a standard service, but I was able to see the principal image of the main hall and the statue of Kobo-Daishi in the Daishi Hall.

The room was a six tatami mat room equipped with air conditioning, a TV and a washbasin. The bath is a hot spring bath with sodium bicarbonate water (containing solid acid carbonate and calcium). After dinner, there was a religious service. Textbooks were distributed and everyone chanted a sutra together.