10 Top-Rated Temple lodgings in Chubu

Takayama Zenkoji is a Jodoshu school of Buddhist temple. Anyone (regardless of any nationality, religion, or gender) can enter, pray, or stay. This temple is a branch temple of Shinshu-Zenkoji in Nagano, and is sacred to Amida(Zenkoji) Nyorai. There are about 400 temples that have Zenkoji Nyorai inside, but only about 100 temples are formally allowed to have the name ‘Zenkoji’. Among these Zenkoji temples, as few as 20 temples were officially recognized as branch temples by Shinshu-Zenkoji. In Gifu, Takayama Zenkoji is the only temple of the kind. Just like Shinshu-Zenkoji, it has Kaidan-meguri(Tour in the pitch dark tunnel)in the basement of the main hall. This temple offers places to stay for anyone visiting from far away. Now that Takayama became a popular spot for tourists overseas, 95% of visitors are from foreign countries. Besides private rooms, there is a shared kitchen and guests can use it for free.

Kakurinbo is a historic Buddhist temple ryokan, or "shukubo," housed within Gyogakuin temple. It was established some 550 years ago to accommodate visiting priests and novice monks. Today, Kakurinbo offers a place of relaxation for visitors and worshipers alike while maintaining an authentic environment. Kakurinbo is one of the oldest shukubo in the Minobusan area and one of the very few to have retained its traditional structure and décor. All rooms are separated by fusuma, a style of sliding door, and guests sleep on futon mattresses laid onto tatami-matted floors. Minobu is famous for its yuba tofu, an essential part of the Buddhist vegetarian diet, and the locally grown Akebono soybeans. At Kakurinbo, we take pride in the generous use of local ingredients in our cuisine. Our lovingly crafted dinners combine the elegance and variety of kaiseki ryori with the wholesomeness of shojin Buddhist cuisine, allowing diners to enjoy the rich flavors of Japan’s four seasons. At Kakurinbo, we are ever striving to provide opportunities for our guests to learn more about the local culture, which is deeply entwined with the practice of Buddhism. To this end, we offer a number of "experiences." These include trying on any one of our 13 authentic wedding kimonos for memorable photo ops, shakyo, or sutra-copying, classes in English, morning yoga at Kakurinbo and morning prayers at Kuonji, and nightly performances of mando that offer a taste of Minobusan's exciting Oeshiki festival.

This is temple guest house. Enjoy Japanese old wooden house and feel Buddhism atmosphere. We are welcome any religions. You can see the temple during your stay. Zen and reading sutras traexperience is welcome for the guests. Feel the 1,200 years history of local Buddhism in north Nagano.