Tohoku? Temple stay ?

Motsuji’s shukubo is divided into Japanese style temple lodging and a youth hostel. The youth hostel rooms are shared rooms with a bunk bed. The temple lodging rooms are Japanese style six tatami mat rooms with tables, tea cups, tea pots, electric fans, futon mattresses and duvets and yukata robes.

This shukubo is located within walking distance from the entrance of the approach to Mount Haguro. The building looks like a private inn but it is strictly a shrine building. There was a tengu (a legendary long-nosed creature) face mask on a wall, which made me feel the world of Shugendo.

This lodging is a shukubo on Mount Yudono, which is located in the deepest part of Dewasanzan (Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan and Mount Yudono) and considered to be a sacred place. Because Yudonosan Shrine does not have a main hall, the sanrosho office seems to serve as the prayer hall and part of the shrine office.

Despite its nice, inn-like appearance, it has a large shrine inside. Here they perform ritual prayers called Gomakito from 5:30 in the morning. The food they serve is traditional shojin (vegetarian) cuisine rich in local produce. In Shinto, "meals" are called "naorai," which means "get-together between men and gods."

This shukubo is located right next to the entrance of the approach to Mount Haguro, so enjoys the best location among the temple lodgings on Mount Haguro. The building is a stately private house with a thatched roof. I was welcomed warmly in the home-like atmosphere.

Mount Osorezan is a sacred mountain located on the Shimokita Peninsula at the northernmost end of the main island of Honshu. The shukubo's rooms are as clean as any hotel room. In the precinct, there are four hot springs, each with different effects.