Temple Lodging (Shukubo)

Mount Koya is one of the best locations for temple lodging even though there are more than 50 other temples offering this kind of service. The reason being that the temples on Mount Koya are accustomed to foreign guests and are easy to reserve. It is not only a perfect experience to stay at a traditional style Japanese room, but also trying the traditional Japanese cuisine provided by each location. The rooms usually have tatami floors and sliding door, which are different from western style rooms at hotels. The cuisine menus consist of vegetarian monk cooking (shojin ryori) that have been passed down for generations. The specialties to look forward to include yuba (tofu skin), koyadofu (freeze dried tofu) and konnyaku (devil’s tongue jelly). Guests are invited for morning prayers and have the chance to view the temples cultural treasures.