Kyoto Temple Stay (Shukubo)
Read a guide to staying at a Kyoto temple. Staying at a temple in Kyoto is an experience not to be missed.
Kyoto Guide: Temple Stay (Shukubo) 宿坊
For a slightly different experience in Kyoto, it is possible to stay at a temple. Kyoto of course has many, many hotels, but a night in a temple will be something to remember.
Shukubo for pilgrims
Known as "shukubo" - literally, "priest's lodgings" - they were original meant to accommodate visiting monks and pilgrims. Guests are required to follow the rules of the temple during their stay.
Many, though not all shukubo, have a curfew and the gates will close early. Visitors may be able to participate in services or meditation session at the discretion of some of the temples listed.
Here is a list of some of the temples in Kyoto that allow visitors to spend the night.
Shoho-in (Jodo Sect)
845 Bomon-cho, Omiya Nishi-iru, Matsubara-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 811 7768
Charge: 4,500 yen without meals, 5,000 yen with breakfast
Access from Kyoto Station: Kyoto city bus #206 to Omiya-Matsubara, then walk 1 minute.
Note: You must have at least two people or more in your party.
Torin-in, Myoshinji Temple, Kyoto
Daishin-in, Myoshinji Temple, Kyoto
Rokuo-in (Rinzai Sect)
24 Kitabori-cho, Saga, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 861 1645
Charge: 4,500 yen with breakfast
Access from Kyoto Station: JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station in Arashiyama, then walk 5 minutes or 2 minutes from Rokoin Station on the Keifuku Randen Line.
Note: Women only. No English spoken. Read a guide to Rokuoin Temple.
Myorenji (Hokke Sect)
Teranouchi-dori Omiya Higashi-iru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 451 3527
Charge: 3,800 yen without meals (including a public bath fee)
Access from Kyoto Station: City bus #9 to Horikawa-Teranouchi, then walk 3 min or subway to Imadegawa Station on the Karasuma Line.
Note: Check in from 6 pm to 8 pm. Bathing facilities are at a public bath (sento) in the neighborhood. The gates are closed at 9pm.
Myoshinji (Rinzai Zen)
There are three sub-temples at Myoshinji in north western Kyoto where guests can stay, two of which are pictured above.
1. Daishin-in (Rinzai Sect) - pictured above right
Hanazono Myoshinji-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 461 5714
Charge: 4,200 yen without meals, 4,700 yen with breakfast.
Access from Kyoto Station: JR Sagano Line to Hanazono Station, then walk 8 minutes.
City bus #26 to Myoshinji Kitamon-mae, then walk 5 minutes.
Note: Little English spoken.
2. Torin-in - pictured above left
59 Hanazono Myoshinji-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 463 1334
Charge: 5,250 yen with breakfast, 6,300 yen with breakfast & dinner
Access from Kyoto Station: JR Sagano Line to Hanazono Station, then walk 8 minutes.
Note: Little English spoken.
3.Shunko-in
42 Myoshinji-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 462 5488
Charge: 6,500 yen for one night; two people sharing 5,500 yen each for one night; no curfew
Access from Kyoto Station: JR Sagano Line to Hanazono Station, then walk 8 minutes.
Note: This is the only temple accommodation in Kyoto which offers its services and Zen meditation class in English. Eight private rooms available. Shunko-in is known for its "Garden of Boulders" - which represent the islands of Ise Bay in Mie Prefecture and has a connection with the Great Shrine of Ise (Ise Jingu). The Tokiwa-no-niwa is another lovely 16th century Japanese garden at Shunko-in.
Shunko-in shukubo accommodation, Myoshinji Temple, Kyoto
Chishakuin Temple garden in Kyoto
Chishaku-in Kaikan (Shingon)
More information on Chishaku-in.
964 Higashikawara-cho, Higashi-oji, Shichijo-sagaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 541 5363 / Fax: 075 541 4167
Charge: 6500 yen with breakfast
Access from Kyoto Station:
City bus #202, 206, 207, 208 to Higashiyama Shichijo, then walk 1 minute.
Note: Little English spoken
Pictured above.
Jorenge-in (Tendai Sect)
407 Ohara-Raigoin-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 744 2408
Charge: 5,000 with breakfast, 7,000 yen with breakfast & dinner
Access from Kyoto Station: Kyoto bus #10, 16, or 17 to the last stop, then walk 18-20 minutes.
Note: Little English spoken.
Hiden-in (Shingo)
35 Sennyuji Sannai-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 561 8781
Charge: 4,725 yen with breakfast
Access from Kyoto Station: City bus #207, #208 to Sennyuji-michi, then walk 10 minutes.
Remark: Reserve as early as possible in advance. Closed in January and February. Four large guest rooms for a maximum of 20 people. Located within Sennyuji Temple close to Tofukuji in south east Kyoto.
Please note that prices and conditions are subject to change
For a full listing of Kyoto Museums & Art Galleries click here