Takayama Zenkoji
TAKAYAMA-ZENKOJI TEMPLE
Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture
Approx. 5 min walk from JR Takayama Station
Max. 30 people (6 rooms)
ABOUT US
Stay at a temple. Find balance at a temple.Stay at a temple. Make space for yourself.
OTERA STAY is a hospitality brand for staying in historic temples and shrines,
and experiencing time flowing in a way unique to each location.
It's not tourism, nor is it ascetic training. It's a third option: "staying as if you live there."
Morning services, shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and polished corridors.
Stepping away from the everyday can reveal insights into how you want to live your life.
OTERA STAY opens the doors of historic temples and shrines, so you can spend a night where time moves at its own pace.
Neither sightseeing nor monastic training, it is a third way to travel: staying as if you lived there.
A morning service, a temple vegetarian meal, the stillness of a polished corridor.
A little distance from everyday life can show you new ways forward.
What is temple lodging like?What is a temple stay?
Stay in a living temple
Stay in a temple that is still in use.A living temple,
not a museum
These are not facilities built for tourism. Every morning there is a morning service, the chief priest's family lives there, and parishioners visit. Guest rooms are nestled within this daily life.These are not facilities built for tourists. There is a service every morning, the priest’s family lives here, and local parishioners come and go. Your room is part of that daily life.
You will be welcomed by
the temple staffWelcomed by
the people of the temple
The temple staff will personally guide your arrival, explain your meals, and lead the morning service. Since only one or two groups are welcomed each day, you will naturally have opportunities to converse with them.From your arrival to meals and the next morning’s service, the people of the temple look after you. With only one or two groups a day, conversation comes naturally.
How you spend your time
is up to youFind
your own pace
Participation in morning services, zazen, and sutra copying is optional. Even spending a whole day simply sitting on the veranda is a perfectly valid way to experience your stay here.Morning service, meditation and sutra copying are all optional. A day spent simply sitting on the veranda is a perfectly good way to spend your time here.
STAY
Stay
Temples nationwide
Choose a place to stay based on your itinerary.
Ten temples, from Gunma in the north to Tsushima in the west.Choose where to stay along your route.
Ten temples, from Gunma to Tsushima.
Scroll through the cards to see their locations on the map,
or click a pin to view the corresponding temple.Scroll the cards to see each temple on the map.
Click a pin to jump to its temple.
Kannon-in
KANNON-IN TEMPLE
- Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture
- Approx. 7 min by car from JR Kiryu Station
- Capacity: 12 people
Shodenji
SHODENJI TEMPLE
- Minato Ward, Tokyo
- Approx. 15 min walk from JR Hamamatsucho Station
- Capacity: 10 people
Daikeiji
DAIKEIJI TEMPLE
- Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Approx. 9 min by car from JR Fujieda Station
- Capacity: 10 people
Kokushoji
KOKUSHOJI TEMPLE
- Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture
- Approx. 11 min walk from Izuhara Port
- Capacity: 3 people
Matsui-bo
MATSUI-BO TEMPLE
- Minobu-cho, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
- Approx. 10 min by car from JR Minobu Station
- Capacity: 3 people
Shimanobo
SHIMANO-BO TEMPLE
- Minobu-cho, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
- Approx. 10 min by car from JR Minobu Station
- Capacity: 10 people
Shorekiji
SHOUREKIJI TEMPLE
- Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture
- Approx. 7 min by car from JR Ayabe Station
- Capacity: 6 people
Daitaiji
DAITAIJI TEMPLE
- Nachikatsuura-cho, Wakayama Prefecture
- Approx. 5 min by taxi from JR Taiji Station
- Guest hall: 8 people + detached room: 2 people
Habanobo
HABANA-BO TEMPLE
- Minobu-cho, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
- Approx. 11 min by car from JR Minobu Station
- Capacity: 4 people
EXPERIENCE
Experiences at temple lodgings
More than just a place to stay. You can choose your destination
based on what you want to experience.
FOUR ENCOUNTERS
During your one-night stay, you will have four encounters.One night. Four encounters.
In sequence, from outside to inside: encounter the land, encounter what has been passed down, encounter practice, and finally, encounter yourself.
None of these require special talent. They will simply come to you in order, just by being there.From the outside in: the land, the heritage, the practice, and finally yourself.
No special skills are needed. Simply being there is enough.
Enter the rhythm of the landSettle into the rhythm of the land
Exit the station, climb the slope, pass through the gate. As you do, your walking pace will gradually change. The dampness of the mountain, the scent of moss, a bell ringing somewhere above. The temple's day flows not by the clock, but by the seasons and the weather. First, surrender your body to that pace.Leave the station, climb the slope and pass through the temple gate, and you will feel your pace begin to change. Damp mountain air, the scent of moss, a bell ringing somewhere above. A temple day follows the seasons and the weather, not the clock. Let yourself fall into step.
A living home, not a museumNot a museum, but a living home
In a hall built seven hundred years ago, sutra chanting still begins every morning. Shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) is based on rules established hundreds of years ago. Polished corridors, seasonal decorations, tools used for generations. None of these are exhibits; they are all still in use today.In halls built centuries ago, the sutras are still chanted every morning. Temple vegetarian cooking follows rules set down hundreds of years ago. Polished corridors, seasonal decorations, tools handed down through generations: nothing here is on display. Everything is still in use today.
Don't just observe, try it yourselfDon’t just watch. Take part.
Sit for morning service, pick up a brush, count your breaths. There's no need to be perfect at sutra copying, zazen, or water meditation. It's okay if you can't maintain seiza (formal kneeling), and participation is entirely up to you. Yet, there's a tranquility known only to those who have tried.Sit in on the morning service, pick up a brush, count your breaths. There is no need to be good at sutra copying, meditation or water purification. It is fine if you cannot kneel for long, and joining in is always up to you. But there is a stillness that only those who try will know.
Take your questions homeTake a question home
After the practice, there's usually a quiet time. Some chat with the head priest, while others simply sit on the veranda. Answers rarely emerge. Instead, the form of the questions you brought changes. These questions will resonate in your daily life after you return.After the practice, there is usually time to sit quietly. Some guests talk with the head priest; others stay on the veranda. Answers rarely come. Instead, the question you arrived with begins to change shape, and it stays with you long after you return home.
HOW IT WORKS
From booking to departureFrom booking to your journey home
Even if it's your first time, there's no need to worry once you understand the flow. A one-night, two-day temple lodging stay generally proceeds as follows.Your first temple stay can be simple. Here is what a typical overnight stay looks like; details vary by temple.
Choose and book your temple lodgingChoose your temple
Once you find a temple lodging that interests you, go to its booking page. You can check availability and rates there.Find a temple that speaks to you, then check availability and prices on its booking page.
›View temple lodging listSee all temples
Arrival and guidanceSettle in
Upon arrival, the head priest or staff will show you around the premises. They'll explain the day's schedule, temple rules, and facilities like the bath. It's a good idea to ask any questions you have at this time.When you arrive, your hosts will show you around: the day’s schedule, temple etiquette, the bath and other facilities. This is a good time to ask anything you are unsure about.
Experience a day at the templeExperience temple life
Participate in morning service, try sutra copying, walk in the mountains, or enjoy shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). The available activities vary by temple lodging.Join the morning service, copy a sutra, walk in the mountains, or enjoy a temple vegetarian meal. What you can do differs from temple to temple.
›View experiences by temple lodgingExperiences by temple
Explore the surroundings and take memories homeTake something home
Visit the temple town and shopping streets, collect goshuin (temple seals). Along with souvenirs, take home the memories of your time here.Wander the temple town and local shops, and collect goshuin temple stamps. Along with your souvenirs, take home the time you spent here.
TESTIMONIALS
Words from our guests
A quiet and magnificent building in a picturesque town. The room was peaceful and relaxing. The morning service and meditation were the best memories of my trip to Japan.Incredible serene architecture in a picturesque city. Rooms were quiet and relaxing. Morning prayer and meditation sessions were a highlight of our Japan visit.
I was able to spend my time purifying my mind and body, thanks to the head priest's talk, the evening service at Habanobo, the wife's cooking, and the morning service at Kuonji.The head priest's talk, the evening service at Habanobo, his wife's cooking, the morning service at Kuonji — I spent my time purifying both body and soul.
The priest and his family welcomed us with open hearts, allowing us to experience authentic Japan. We were invited to meditation and evening services every day, an experience I highly recommend.We got a unique and authentic Japanese experience where the monk and his family took wonderful care of us. … We were invited to join the meditation and evening prayers every day, it's an experience we can highly suggest.
A tranquil space, delicious food, and engaging conversation. I had a truly luxurious time.The tranquil atmosphere, delicious food, and conversation made for a truly luxurious experience.
The best place I've ever stayed. It was a beautiful, peaceful temple. ... The futon was amazing, and I had the best sleep of my life.This is the best place I have ever stayed in. It's such a beautiful and peaceful hotel. … The futon was the best, I had the best sleep in my life.
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BUSINESS & PARTNERS
Businesses, groups, and partnersGroups, business and partners
FOR BUSINESS
For businesses and groups
Rent an entire temple or shrine for training, retreats, photo shoots, or special invitations. We can also arrange custom itineraries tailored to your company's needs.
About business use
FOR PARTNERS
For temples, shrines, and business partners
For temples and shrines looking to start temple lodging, and for companies and local governments interested in regional collaborations. See our past achievements.
About partnershipsFIND YOUR PATH
Which temple will you start with?Where will your journey begin?
From Tsushima to Kumano, discover our 10 temple lodgings across Japan. Browse the list and find one that interests you.From Tsushima to Kumano, explore temple stays across Japan and find the one that feels right for you.
Reservations will take you to each temple lodging's external booking site. Availability and rates can be checked there.Booking continues on an external site, where you can check availability and prices.