45 temples
恵光院
A flagship Koyasan shukubo with English-guided Goma fire ceremony, Ajikan meditation, and nightly Okunoin tours.
from $130 /per night
福智院
The only Koyasan shukubo with a natural hot spring, three Mirei Shigemori gardens, and refined shojin ryori.
from $175 /per night
蓮華定院
A Sanada-family bodaiji shukubo on Mt. Koya with English-speaking monks, just 13 rooms, and a strong samurai-era heritage.
from $230 /per night
一乗院
A renovated luxury shukubo on Mt. Koya with just four garden-view suites, each with a private hinoki cypress bath, and acclaimed shojin ryori cuisine.
from $280 /per night
金剛三昧院
A historic Koyasan shukubo built by Hojo Masako in 1211, home to a National Treasure Tahoto pagoda and over a dozen Important Cultural Properties.
大本山永平寺 参籠（吉祥閣）
A one-night Zen retreat inside the head temple of Soto Zen Buddhism, with pre-dawn zazen, choka service, and shojin ryori.
from $55 /per night
永平寺 親禅の宿 柏樹関
A modern Zen inn at the gate of Eiheiji, with 18 cedar-built rooms, evening zazen and access to the temple's pre-dawn morning service.
from $195 /per night
延暦寺会館
The only shukubo on Mt. Hiei, located inside UNESCO-listed Enryaku-ji with a 6:30 morning service in the National Treasure Konponchudo and panoramic Lake Biwa views.
from $130 /per night
圓満院門跡 三密殿
A 1,000-year-old imperial monzeki shukubo beside Mii-dera, with a National Treasure-class Shinden hall, Soami garden, and six cultural experiences.
from $95 /per night
春光院
Kyoto's most internationally renowned Zen shukubo, offering English-led meditation classes and modern en-suite rooms inside a 1590 Myoshin-ji sub-temple.
from $60 /per night
知恩院 和順会館
The official lodging of Chion-in, head temple of Jodo-shu Pure Land Buddhism, with morning services in a National Treasure hall and 50 modern rooms beside the Sanmon gate.
from $80 /per night
井光山 五臺寺 櫻本坊
A Shugendo training-hall shukubo on UNESCO-listed Yoshino-yama, founded by an Emperor Tenmu vow and home to three Important Cultural Property Buddhas.
from $80 /per night
大峯山 東南院
A 1,300-year-old shukubo founded by En no Gyoja southeast of Kinpusen-ji, with a famous tahoto pagoda and weeping cherry. Used by Retired Emperor Shirakawa and Matsuo Basho.
from $60 /per night
竹林院 群芳園
Yoshino-yama's most prestigious shukubo-ryokan, founded by Prince Shotoku and centered on Gunpoen — a Sen no Rikyu garden listed among the Three Great Gardens of Yamato.
from $110 /per night
吉野荘 湯川屋
A 300-year-old gate-front ryokan to Kinpusen-ji Zao-do, the closest lodging to the National Treasure hall, with Nara's first infinity open-air bath.
from $130 /per night
羽黒山参籠所 斎館
The only Edo-era shukubo still standing on the Haguro-san summit, run by Dewa Sanzan Jinja, with Michelin-listed mountain-herb shojin ryori.
from $75 /per night
宿坊 大進坊
A yamabushi-run Toge shukubo with handmade shojin ryori, in-house goma fire prayers, and full English-friendly services.
from $95 /per night
出羽三山 多聞館
300-year-old Toge shukubo built from Haguro sacred cedar, famous for sesame-tofu ankake and mountain-herb shojin ryori.
from $90 /per night
大聖坊
A 400-year Touge yamabushi shukubo led by Master Hoshino Fumihiro, famous worldwide for its summer yamabushi training programmes.
from $110 /per night
羽黒山 荒澤寺 正善院
The head temple of Haguro Shugen Hon-shu — a 1,400-year working Shugendo monastery preserving the Buddhist lineage of Haguro-san, with the National Important Cultural Property Koganedo.
from $110 /per night
湯殿山総本寺 瀧水寺金剛院 大日坊
The Shingon head temple of Yudonosan, founded by Kukai in 807, enshrining the Shinnyokai Shonin sokushinbutsu (living Buddha) and a National ICP Shaka Nyorai.
from $75 /per night
大本山高尾山薬王院有喜寺 大本坊
A 1,200-year-old Shingon yamabushi head temple just outside Tokyo, with a twice-yearly 1-night training retreat at Daihonbo featuring waterfall ablutions, pre-dawn mountain practice and sacred fire ritual.
from $165 /per night
宿坊 正伝寺 (TEMPLE HOTEL SHODEN-JI)
A modern self-check-in shukubo in central Tokyo set within the precincts of a 400-year-old Nichiren-shu temple, with two private 1LDK guesthouse units, kitchenette, and optional sutra-copying.
from $130 /per night
遍照尊院
A Koyasan shukubo built on the hill where Kobo Daishi practiced asceticism, with a large cypress bath and Ajikan meditation.
from $95 /per night
赤松院
A 1,100-year-old Koyasan shukubo with a 1,500-tsubo garden, the closest temple lodging to Okunoin cemetery.
from $95 /per night
西禅院
A bekkaku-honzan Koyasan shukubo with three Mirei Shigemori gardens, only 15 guest rooms, and ties to Shinran Shonin.
from $150 /per night
櫻池院
A 12th-century imperial-foundation shukubo on Mt. Koya famed for its Mirei Shigemori stone garden and the cherry-reflecting pond that gives the temple its name.
from $120 /per night
総持院
A 12th-century shukubo opposite Kongobu-ji with five gardens, an onsen bath, and acclaimed vegan shojin ryori.
from $130 /per night
無量光院
A Heian-era Koyasan shukubo offering daily Shomyo chant and a morning Goma fire ceremony in 30 traditional Japanese-style guest rooms.
清浄心院
A Special Head Temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, founded in the Tencho era (824-834) and standing at the very gate of Okunoin Cemetery.
清涼山 天龍寺
A working Soto Zen training hall and branch temple of Eiheiji that accepts short- and long-term sansen practitioners regardless of background.
ユースホステル西教寺
A budget-friendly shukubo inside the Tendai Shinsei head temple at the foot of Mt. Hiei, with 6:30 morning service and Akechi Mitsuhide heritage.
from $28 /per night
花園会館
Myoshin-ji's official hotel-style shukubo near JR Hanazono Station, with 66 modern rooms, public bath, and easy access to Zen meditation programs.
from $90 /per night
聖護院 御殿荘
A traditional ryokan-style lodging inside the precinct of Shogo-in Monzeki, head temple of Honzan Shugen-shu and a former temporary Imperial Palace.
from $110 /per night
妙蓮寺
A 1294 head temple of the Honmon Hokke (Lotus) sect with rare overnight stays in spartan tatami rooms beside a famous Jurokurakan dry garden.
from $30 /per night
信貴山大本山 玉蔵院
A working Shingon prayer temple and shukubo on Mt. Shigi with daily pre-dawn goma fire ceremonies, shojin ryori, and English support.
from $75 /per night
信貴山大本山 千手院
The oldest sub-temple on Mt. Shigi, founded in 902, with 1,100 years of unbroken Bishamonten goma fire and 13 traditional guest rooms.
from $90 /per night
信貴山大本山 成福院
A modern Murano Togo-designed shukubo on Mt. Shigi, with private-bath rooms, mountain views and a 7,700-yen sudomari rate.
from $50 /per night
護法山 喜蔵院
A Honzan Shugen-shu sub-temple of Kinpusen-ji and one of Mt. Omine's five guardian temples — the only Yoshino temple that runs both a shukubo and a youth hostel.
from $50 /per night
宿坊 神林勝金
A rare thatched-roof Touge shukubo at the very foot of the Haguro-san stone steps and the National Treasure Five-Story Pagoda.
from $95 /per night
羽黒山 三光院
A working Touge yamabushi shukubo a short walk from Haguro-san's Zuijinmon gate, with 8 private rooms and lunch-only shojin ryori for day visitors.
from $80 /per night
出羽路の宿 宮田坊
A 150-year-old Touge shukubo that has modernised to host Gas-san climbers, retreats and lectures alongside traditional pilgrims.
from $70 /per night
出羽三山詣 羽黒山 宿坊 真田延命院
A Touge shukubo six minutes from the Haguro-san cedar avenue, specialising in initial-pilgrimage prayers and three-mountain pilgrimage consultation.
from $95 /per night
宿坊 宮下坊
A traditional Touge gate-town shukubo at Haguro-san offering goma fire prayers, guided mountain climbs and Dewa Sanzan vegetarian cuisine.
from $75 /per night
湯殿山 注連寺
A 9th-century Shingon temple of Yudonosan founded by Kukai as a women's worship hall, enshrining the sokushinbutsu of Tetsumonkai Shonin and rated two stars by Michelin.
from $75 /per night
