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I can’t lie: The Shukubo, or temple keep, was already considerably well-liked the primary time I did one, atop Mt. Koya again in 2018. The worth I paid for it alone (round ¥30,000 per evening for 2 folks) displays this.
However, each the variety of such lodging and the demand for them has skyrocketed in more moderen years, particularly for the reason that pandemic. And never simply at Koyasan, despite the fact that that is still the Japanese vacation spot with the very best focus of temples you possibly can sleep in.
My objective, over the subsequent few paragraphs, shouldn’t be solely that will help you discover temple stays in Japan, however to demystify the subject and speak about it in a sober manner. These types of lodgings are positively cool, however they may not be what you suppose they’re.
How the Shukubo Grew to become a Sought-After Lodging Selection
In some methods, the success of the Japanese shukubo is smart. Japan is comparatively undiscovered by Westerners; after they do go there, they search out experiences that really feel genuine and, for lack of a greater phrase, Japanese. With the ability to sleep in a Buddhist temple, regardless of what it truly entails (extra on that in a second) is an ideal conceptual match for this broad goal.
The fact of a temple keep, to make certain, usually belies its excessive value and the excessive expectations foreigners place on it. Lodging is commonly extra on par with a easy minshuku than with a equally priced ryokan, and virtually at all times requires you to share a toilet with different vacationers. On the flip facet, the distinctive Buddhist-vegan Shojin ryori is one in all Japan’s extra compelling cuisines, significantly for the vegetarian vacationers who usually really feel ignored within the chilly right here.
Common Temple Keep Locations in Japan
Mt. Koya (Koyasan)
Mt. Koyasan has turn into extra crowded and costly since I first began going there, however I nonetheless adore it. In reality, as I write this, I’m simply two months out from taking my subsequent journey there! My recommendation, in the event you do go right here, is to keep away from the favored Eko-in and select different highly-rated choices, similar to Saizen-in and Fugen-in.
Kyoto
I truly didn’t understand that it was doable to do a Japanese temple keep in Kyoto after I lived there, which is now a giant remorse of mine. To make certain, as tourism has boomed, many Kyoto temples have ceased working as shukubo. You may see a full listing of ones that also do right here!
Sado Island
Once I abruptly moved my deliberate April 2025 return to Sado Island to June of that 12 months (the sakura had been late; in April, I wouldn’t have the ability to watch Noh), I unintentionally booked a keep at Gyokurin-ji, which rapidly grew to become my favourite Japanese temple keep (partly as a result of I used to be the one visitor). Employees there instructed me there are plans for extra shukubo on the island!
Shingu
I’ll admit: I haven’t personally sampled the Japan temple keep in Shingu, which I don’t imagine was open the final time I visited Japan’s close by waterfall pagoda. Nonetheless, Chotoku-ji has all of the markings of a fantastic temple lodging; plus, it’s only a quick stroll from Shingu Station.
The Shikoku Pilgrimage
It may not be stunning, however many temples alongside the 88-temple pilgrimage route on Shikoku Island supply shukubo lodging. What’s barely extra irritating is 2 parallel information: You may’t usually guide these upfront; regardless of this, you run the danger of turning as much as discover the one you need is full. D’oh!
Different Novelty Lodging in Japan
Temple stays have been probably the most desired Japanese lodging lately, however they’re not the one one. The primary that involves thoughts, which was at its hottest previous to Japan’s 2010s tourism growth, is the Capsule Resort. These small rooms had rather more utility, to make certain, within the days when the Japanese yen traded at 80-100 to the USD, as an alternative of the present fee of round 140-160.
One other various to a temple keep in Japan that could be very, let’s consider, completely different? The Love Resort, which as its identify suggests is a by-the-hour lodging that exists in the beginning to serve lovers on the lookout for a spot to…love. It’s also possible to technically keep in sure Japanese castles, although the actually exorbitant charges for such expertise implies that it isn’t actually smart for somebody like me to cowl them.
Different FAQ About Temple Stays in Japan
How a lot is temple keep in Japan?
Temple stays in Japan can vary from cheap charges like ¥10,000 per evening (and even much less) in off-the-beaten-path locations like Niigata‘s Sado Island, to as a lot as ¥100,000 per evening (or much more) atop Mt. Koya, whose shukubo popularized the idea within the first place.
The place to remain at a temple in Japan?
The most typical place to do a temple keep in Japan is Koyasan, a sacred mountaintop city in Wakayama prefecture, the place world understanding of the idea originated. Nevertheless, shukubo can be found elsewhere in Japan, together with in Kyoto, in addition to on islands like Sado and Shikoku.
Is Koyasan temple keep price it?
For those who guide early and may get an affordable fee at a highly-rate temple, than a Koyasan temple keep is totally price it. Nevertheless, in case your solely possibility is to spend 1,000 USD per evening (or near it), or to remain in one of many much less well-regarded temples on the mountain, I’d say that you simply may need to think about an alternate vacation spot.
The Backside Line
The subject of temple stays in Japan is extra nuanced than it may appear on the floor. For starters, you received’t simply discover them atop Mt. Koya—they exist throughout Japan, from mainstream locations prefer to Kyoto, to locations far off the overwhelmed path, similar to Sado and Shikoku islands. Secondly, whereas costs for shukubo are sometimes excessive (and typically even exorbitant), the expertise supplied is easy, even spartan by design. You’ll seemingly have to share a toilet with different vacationers, even in the event you’re paying tens of 1000’s of yen per evening! Need assistance deciding whether or not or to not embrace a temple keep in your subsequent Japan itinerary? Think about hiring me to plan it!
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