Picture: Top, a pagoda in Koyasan. Bottom, the view from our room at the Shojoshin-in Temple in Koyasan.
If you think Japan and temples, you are surely think of Kyoto. Kyoto might have hundreds of temples and shrines but they are all scattered across a big city. And only very few temples offer accommodation. Should you hanker for a unique temple retreat on a sacred mountain, I strongly suggest you visit Koya-san, the temple retreat of the Shingon Buddhist sect. Koya-san is about two hours south from Osaka and located on a small mountain, accessible by cable-car or car. The town of 4'200 inhabitants was founded in the 9th century by the Buddhist monk Kobo Diashi Kukai, founder of the Shingon Buddhist sect. Koya-san is a UNSESCO World Heritage Site and has over 100 temples, almost sixty of them offering accommodation. The temples are surrounded by dense forrest and beautifully embedded into nature, not like in Kyoto. The lodgings vary in price and comfort. We stayed at the more comfortable Shojoshin-in temple and got a spacious tatami room with futons, a view on a small Japanese garden, a heater and external douche toilets. We were served an elaborate Shojin Ryori breakfast and dinner. This is a traditional vegan Buddhist meal (you can even get a beer at certain temples). Guests of the temple are invited to attend the early morning Shingon ceremony. Shingon Buddhism is especially famous for its fire ceremony and I recommend you attend one. For more information on Koya-san and temple lodgings, visit: Www.shukubo.net
How long can you sit like that?
Posted by: Onn | December 07, 2010 at 09:39 AM