Syukubo in Koyasan [Ekoin] Later part
Within the incredible Shingon Buddhist mountaintop complex of Koyasan, about fifty temples function as shukubo, temples which provide overnight accommodations and meals for visitors. Shukubo also offer the opportunity to take part in the life of the religious community. This may involve joining in prayers, observing certain ceremonies, or training in meditation techniques. Ekoin is a shukubo located near the center of Koyasan. Though the present buildings are a little over a century old, the temple’s history dates to earliest days of Koya-san. Some of the temple’s 36 guest rooms look out on the charming garden, and both dinner and breakfast are served to guests in their rooms. The food is shojin-ryori, the characteristic vegetarian cuisine associated with Buddhist communities. Some people love shojin-ryori, others are less impressed, but it’s a big part of the shukubo experience. About half the rooms have televisions or telephones. You’ll share the baths with the other guests, but they’re clean and comfortable and separated by sex.
Many of the monks are young men, training at Ekoin before returning to serve as Shingon priests in temples back home. Their schedule doesn’t allow a great deal of interaction with guests, but if they have free time they’re very friendly. Sometimes guests have joined them for afternoon baseball games, or sat around the temple office chatting. Mostly, though, you’ll see the monks at mealtimes and at the two morning services guests are invited to join. These are a recitation of scriptures at 6:30 and a fire ceremony about half an hour later. It’s possible to make Koya-san a day-trip, but you’ll miss out on a lot. To see the temples by night, and feel the community come to life around you at dawn, you’ll need to take a room in a shukubo. It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else.
497 Koyasan, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture
Koyasan Station===(15 min. by Nankai bus)===Ekoin
Holidays:
None
Open Hours:
Check-in: 3:00 p.m. Check-out: 10:00 a.m.
9,000 - 15,000 yen / person (including 2 meals)
Koyasan: http://www.shukubo.jp/eng/index.html
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