Shukubo Honkakuin
Shukubo Honkakuin is a traditional temple lodging located on Mount Koya (Koyasan) in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Established in 1521, this Buddhist temple belongs to the Shingon sect and has been offering accommodation to pilgrims and travelers for over five centuries. The temple sits within the sacred mountain complex founded by the monk Kobo Daishi in 816 CE, which remains one of Japan's most important religious centers and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.
The temple serves as both an active place of worship and a cultural heritage site where visitors can experience authentic Buddhist monastery life. Honkakuin is particularly known for its well-preserved architecture, featuring traditional sliding doors adorned with paintings, tatami-matted rooms, and peaceful Zen gardens. The temple maintains its religious functions while welcoming guests of all backgrounds to participate in temple activities and observe monastic traditions.
Staying at Honkakuin offers a unique immersive experience in Japanese Buddhist culture. Guests sleep in traditional Japanese-style rooms, participate in morning prayer services at 6:00 AM, and enjoy shojin ryori, the elaborate vegetarian cuisine developed by Buddhist monks that emphasizes seasonal ingredients and mindful preparation.
Many visitors also explore the nearby Okunoin cemetery, the largest graveyard in Japan with over 200,000 graves, and attend meditation sessions led by resident monks. The temple provides English-speaking staff to help international visitors understand the customs and practices.
Mount Koya is accessible from Osaka via the Nankai Electric Railway. Take the Nankai Koya Line from Namba Station to Gokurakubashi Station (approximately 90 minutes), then transfer to the cable car for the final five-minute ascent to the mountaintop. From Koyasan Station, local buses run to various temple locations throughout the mountain. Honkakuin is located in the central temple district, easily reachable by bus or a 15-minute walk from the main bus center.
