Tokushima? Temple stay ?

Mitsugonji Temple is located halfway up the mountain in Awa Ikeda. It was a little difficult to get to without a car. There was a youth hostel building on the left side of the main hall. If you stay here, you can experience goma (fire) prayer and meditation.

Guests can stay in the main building, which was built at the end of the Edo period. They serve shojin cuisine containing no meat or fish. They use seasonal vegetables produced in neighboring fields or donated by practitioners. Reservations must be made a week in advance of your stay.

The Goma burning prayer held in the morning service was really impressive as I saw it for the first time. The meals were also tasty. I was able to use a private Japanese-style room all to myself. The bath was comfortable, too. I was able to sleep well as it was quiet.

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.