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10 Temple lodgings in Ito-gun: Best hotel deals for 2023
Discover the best Temple lodgings in Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, Kinki including Koyasan Fudoin Temple, Souji-in, Mt.Koya Kumagaiji, Zofukuin, Ekoin Temple, Koyasan, Saizen-in, Ichijoin, Fukuchiin, Yochiin, Shojoshin-in Temple.
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1. Koyasan Fudoin Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Fudoin is a temple based on the teaching of Fudomyo-o (a saint who is the symbol of determination), founded as one of the twelve temples by Saiko, a high monk, in Nishitani in 906 and located in the southern part of the centre of the mountain, which a very convenient area for a visit. The temple is also known as the main temple for the Yamashinas (an Imperial family branch) and is called "Yamashina Betsuin". Bifukumonin, the Emperess of Emperor Toba, was a devout follower of Kobodaishi and buried here at Fudoin, just as she wished in her will, in respect for her life-time contributions to the temple, such as donating Konshi-Kindei Amida-kyo and three Amida statues. At this temple, you can enjoy your meals with a great view of our relaxing and beautiful garden, attend the morning devotional service and read and transcribe scriptures in a quiet environment, far away from traffic. This will be your "ultimate healing experience", which only this historic temple can offer.
Sigh. My favorite part of Japan.
Reviewed By bufflingI actually stayed here around 2016. I loved Koyasan and loved this stay, even more! I’d go back to Japan just to stay here, again. The monks singing is magical and I got THE BEST SLEEP I’VE EVER HAD on their tatami beds! And I am a notoriously picky sleeper. They had these amazingly soft comforters, which you could layer, and it felt like sleeping in a cloud! I’ve been searching for them since and have never figured out how to replicate them. And our room was huge and the dinner was, literally, the only good food I had in all of Japan! Probably bc it was vegan, so there were no worms (that look like French fries) or “vegetarian” surprises, like snail eggs or ink gushing squid, etc. Love Koyasan, and this was the best!!!!
2. Souji-in
Overall Ratings
4 based on 86 reviews
Something special
Reviewed By 582rebekahmI stayed here for two days and I think I may have been the only guest. I was upgraded to the suite, which was a lovely large room, private bath, and a pretty seating area with a garden view. The food was absolutely amazing....beautifully presented and incredibly tasty (and you can order alcohol, which was a nice surprise). The location is great. The temple areas across the road were serene and lovely and when you go early in the morning (after breakfast) you are there before the tourists. While English wasn't spoken by many of the people there, we managed to muddle through due to the kindness of the people who are working there.
3. Mt.Koya Kumagaiji
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
Interesting experience at a temple
Reviewed By KomatorKumagaiji is a temple where you can stay. You sleep in a very spacious Ryokan-style room. Bathrooms and onsen are shared, but very clean. You share your dinner and breakfast with the rest of the tourists, eating the typical (vegetarian) meals that the monks eat. You can also attend the religious ceremony they do early in the morning (6am). The temple is next to the cemetery (a must-see!) And as it is a small town you can walk everywhere. I was hoping it would be a less "touristy" mink. It is not so much a temple where tourists are integrated with the monks, it is a temple turned into a tourist hotel. You eat in a dining room where there are only tourists. Religious activity is aimed at the tourists.
4. Zofukuin
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Not the uplifting experience we were expecting
Reviewed By 876eileenwWe felt a little exploited, very cold and quick to collect payment on arrival, which is fine but not particularly welcoming. Very clean and basic, as is the food. 9pm curfew makes for a very long evening. Very uncomfortable beds and ‘pillows’. No bathing/shower facilities after 10pm or in the morning! The ceremony at 6.30am was not inclusive or uplifting, felt like the three monks were going through the motions for the guests. Koyasan is very nice, amazing temples and beautiful trees.
5. Ekoin Temple, Koyasan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 608 reviews
【History of Ekoin】A 1000 year-old Buddhist temple, Shukubo Koya-san Eko-in offers Japanese-style accommodation, a beautiful garden, and free Wi-Fi. Guests are free to attend Buddhist morning services, the Goma fire ritual and meditation.【Rooms&Facilities】Rooms feature tatami-mat floors, traditional futon beds and paper sliding screens. They are fitted with an LCD TV and a safe. Bathroom facilities are shared, and the public baths are open only from 4 pm-10 pm daily.【Meals】Meals are served at the guest room at scheduled times and feature Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. Groups of more than 4 people dine at the Japanese-style dining room, where chairs can be provided upon advance request.【Surroundings】Shukubo Temple is close to other ancient Buddhist buildings such as Kongobu-ji Temple, which is a 10 minute walk. The Ichi-no-Hashi entrance to the ancient Okuno-In Temple is a 3 minute walk away.*Guests can experience group meditation, and they can write Buddhist texts with a brush and ink on scrolls at their room. They can also go hiking in the scenic surroundings of Koya-san Eko-in. The temple has a lounge with a computer corner.
Good Shukubo experience
Reviewed By ramadurair2016First time staying in this type of facility but really enjoyed it. Good proximity to other temples in Koyasan. Enjoyed their vegan meals and fire ritual. Staff, who are monks themselves, are very good. Limited facilitiesand most of them are sharing type. Thought price per person was a bit on the high side
6. Saizen-in
Overall Ratings
4 based on 105 reviews
A temple with a rich history, Saizen-in was opened by Jakumyu Ajari during the Heian Period above the valley near Danjo Garan shorty after Kobo Daishi founded Koyasan. Kakuban Shonin, the founder of the Shingi Shingon sect, which is responsible for popularizing within Japan the ritual of chanting to the Amida Buddha, came to Koyasan to be trained under Jakumyu Ajari. Later on, Shinran Shonin visited Koyasan, where it is said he devoted himself to studying the Amida chant.
Affordable temple experience
Reviewed By 498oliverdMy rating is given in relation to my expectation. The price per night at this temple is lower than at most of the other temples. You still get the entire experience, traditional rooms, quietude, very friendly staff, hot bath and a good dinner, which is Buddhist vegetarian. The food is beautifully arranged, however it might be slightly better at some of the other more expensive temples, but it was still excellent. If you want to experience the temple stay, without spending a fortune, this is the place. And it is located just next to the great pagoda
7. Ichijoin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 178 reviews
Exquisite, Exceptional, One of a kind!
Reviewed By G2470UBkellykTruly a profound and very healing experience to reside in such a deep and settled vibration - Wow! Easy to reach with only speaking English - it took us about 2 1/2 hours total from Kyoto, 2 easy train switches, a cable car to go up to Mt. Koya, then it's a short bus ride into the town of Koyasan which drops you off a stone's throw from Ichijoin. Genuinely lovely, welcoming staff. The food is an event! Incredible, delicious, very plentiful - simply a divine experience! We stayed two nights in late February and never saw more than a couple other guests. My husband and I had the onsens (separated by gender) entirely to ourselves in the evening, hours are 4-9pm. I just have to figure out how I'm going to get back there year after year - can't stop thinking about it! It was by far the most favorite part of our 15 day trip to Japan!
8. Fukuchiin
Overall Ratings
4 based on 452 reviews
Over priced & over rated
Reviewed By Gige484It is a beautiful temple with garden but we felt it was over priced. Maybe they’re getting too many foreign tourists but the monks on reception were unhelpful & unfriendly. The dinner was pretty much thrown at us and was virtually cold. We had been travelling through out japan for 3 weeks and this was the first time we had disagreeable service. To pay top rates for very second rate accommodation and food is unacceptable. Don’t waste your money on this place. We speak Japanese and are used to Ryokans so this was not the issue.
9. Yochiin
Overall Ratings
4 based on 108 reviews
A night & morning prayers in a monastery
Reviewed By epicure49We arrived a little later than we should have... but the young moms who greeted us were charming and very hospitable. Our room was clean and the futons on the tatami floor were perfectly comfortable although we surprised that the beds had been prepared facing the wall. Showers and baths were to be taken only until 4.30pm and not in the mornings... so we enjoyed the wonderful huge 'jacuzzi' bath before an early-is night. We'd eaten earlier and had missed any chance of supper. We were woken at 6am and shown into the temple area for prayers. Other than the same young monk from the night before, only visitors were present... which was pity as we would have preferred to be amongst the monks in order to observe their behaviour. In turn, we each knelt, prayed and put pinches of incense into the embers. The monk chanted and recited for over an hour... very impressive if a little wearing on those unaccustomed to kneeling or crouching for so long. Overall, a good experience and one we were pleased to undergone.
10. Shojoshin-in Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 340 reviews
Interesting temple
Reviewed By AB_Stb_OZThis nice temple is located near the entrance of the famous Okuno-in Cemetery at Koyasan. It has a small but nice garden. The temple is mainly used for accommodating pilgrims. I was just a vistor and doubt if it was open for guests in winter.
