Chionin WajunKaikan
TEL : 075-205-5013Address : 400-2 Rinkacho, Higashiyama Ward, KyotoAccess : “JR Kyoto station” > (bus) > “Chion-in-mae bus stop” > 6 minutes walkParking : There is a parking lotTime : Check-in 15:00 Check-out 10:00Room : 50 guest room
Chionin temple
Chion-in is the head temple of Jodo-shu and is famous for the world’s largest wooden gate, the umbrella left by Jingoro Hidari and the nightingale corridor.
Shukubo (temple stay)
The shukubo itself is a modern reinforced concrete building. Other than the priests at the reception, it looks like a Japanese style inn. (When I was taking a bath, a priest came in to share the bath.)
The room consists of two six tatami mat rooms. The room was equipped with a TV set, air conditioning and a safe. A towel, a toothbrush and a yukata robe were also provided. The curfew is eleven at night.
There were lots of souvenirs on sale in the lobby.
You can eat meals at Kasuian, a Kyoto cuisine restaurant, although it is a little expensive. As there are many places to eat near the temple, you do not have to worry. Although I was traveling alone, I was welcomed.
Morning memorial service
At the shukubo , the morning service was more impressive than anything else.
In the Amida-do hall, we welcomed the priests while hitting temple blocks and then chanted “Namuamidabutsu,” which is followed by the service in Miei-do hall, a national treasure. We sat down in the interior, which is usually off-limits, and offered incense. A textbook of sutra was handed to each guest and we chanted the sutra together.
In the service, the names of the shukubo guests were announced one by one and a prayer was given for each of us and our ancestors. I had a stronger feeling of participation in the service of Chion-in than at any other temple.
