Yochiin
TEL : 0736-56-2003Address : 293 Koyasan, Koya, Ito District, WakayamaAccess : (cable) > “Koyasan” > (bus) > “Kondo-mae bus stop” > 3 minutes walkParking : There is a parking lotTime : Check-in 15:00 Check-out 10:00Room : 26 guest room ,max 80 people
Introduction to Yochiin Temple
There is a religious service in the morning in the main hall. You can experience shakyo (copying sutra by hand) and shabutsu (copying images of Buddha by hand) (\1,000, reservation required). They serve shojin vegetarian cuisine using seasonal ingredients. Both visitors and guests staying there can have this for lunch and you can order sake or beer.
In May, you can enjoy cherry blossoms on the hanging branches. Seikei-in, the annexed temple, is the family temple of the Takeda family. It owns a statue of Singen, which is an important cultural asset.
Shukubo (temple stay)
On the day of I stayed there, I arrived at around 17:20 in the evening, but the gate was closed. I went to the back door and asked them to open the gate. A young priest answered me. It seemed that there were only two young priests and a maid. The head priest did not seem to be there.
I was guided to a ten tatami mat room and a sweet called Mirokuishi was served. The room and the corridor were pretty neat and clean. A yukata robe, a toothbrush and a towel were provided in the room. I took a bath before dinner. The bath was a Jacuzzi bath and bright. It gave me the impression of an expensive hotel.
Dinner (shojin vegetarian cuisine)
Dinner was served around 18:30. I ate it in the ten-tatami room next to mine. Before starting to eat, a young priest explained about shojin vegetarian cuisine. The dishes were ordinary and the number of items wasn’t so many, but I think the more expensive plan will serve you a richer meal.
Morning service
The next morning, the morning service was conducted from 6:30. I offered incense while two young priests were chanting a sutra. I think it lasted about half an hour.
After that, we had breakfast in the same room where we had had dinner.
I hear that the secret treasure of Shingen Takeda is housed in Reiho-kan. Although I visited Reiho-kan later, I could not see the treasure, because it was to be exhibited at a Mount Koya Exhibition held in Tokyo in April.
