Koyasan Shukubo Yochiin

Amazing host! Thank you so much for your kindness and sharing with us

Great experience to stay in temple. Food for diner and breakfast was divers and good. Nice whirlpool Location direct opposite main Koyasan temple complex, 3 km from cemetary. We loved the cemetary tour guided by one of monks (after dinnet) as well as the ceremonies.

We spent a great night at Yochi-in on Koya-san. I had my first shukubo (temple lodging) experience at another temple 13 years prior at a significantly bigger temple. Compared to that, our stay at Yochi-in was more personal and intimate. Special thanks to Michael, a young, native English speaking monk, who greatly enriched our experience with his passion and patience, guiding us over Okunoin cemetery at night (definitely recommended to take part in this experience) and leading the morning meditation. If you're reading this, Michael: Thank you for turning our stay into an unforgettable experience. The shojin ryori food was lovely and interesting, and it was very sad for us to see that several guests seemed too scared or ignorant to even try all the different dishes before discarding them. Before you consider a shukubo experience, please consider: - Are you at least vaguely interested in and ready to be respectful of Buddhism? - Are you open to new experiences, viewpoints, customs, and tastes? A shukubo experience might not be for you if: - you expect luxury hotel service just because the stay isn't cheap and the temple images look very charming - you find following some basic rules challenging or taking away your enjoyment (e.g. consider that there is a curfew in place at night; you have to arrive early in order to be served dinner; bath times are only within certain time slots etc.)

some fellow guests seemed to be unprepared for or misinformed about where they were staying

In fairness the place was exactly as advertised, however the overall experience was not worth the money we paid for it.

No tour of the facility, no explanation of what/why/where, until just before breakfast, after which we had to check out. Welcome wasn't as friendly as expected, we felt a bit like intruders.