Shorekiji (Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a temple lodging with a thousand-year history, available for exclusive rental by one group per day. Dinner options include a full course featuring a whole rare Kuro mine Shamo gamecock raised locally, or a creative shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) full course with a modern twist. This temple auberge offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the meaning of "receiving life" through the act of eating.
A lodging for the cuisine: The "Temple Auberge"
An auberge is originally a type of inn in the French countryside where guests stay primarily for the food. You can savor dinner made with local ingredients at your leisure and then sleep without worrying about travel. It's a lodging where the meal itself becomes the purpose of your trip.
Shorekiji has adopted this concept for a temple, proclaiming itself the "world's first temple auberge." Only one group can stay per day. The entire temple, including the main hall, dining area, and bamboo grove, becomes a private space for that one group. The temple lodging opened in 2016 and was renovated in 2021.
Overlooking the Yura River and surrounded by mountains, the temple grounds feature a 600-year-old zelkova tree and a bamboo grove. The temple's origins date back to 942, when Kuya Shonin enshrined a Kannon statue. It is said that Emperor Ichijo bestowed the temple with the name "Shoryaku," after the era name at the time.
A full course of Kuro mine Shamo, used entirely without waste
One of the main stars of dinner is the rare "Kurohime Shamo" chicken, carefully raised at the local Hasugamine Farm. At Shorekiji, an entire chicken is sourced and prepared in a multi-course meal, with different cooking methods for each part.
The shin is steamed Saikyo-style, the thigh is served as a salad, and the breast is dressed with mustard-vinegar miso. The neck skin is simmered with local vegetables, rare cuts are grilled on lava stone, and the meal concludes with a chicken meatball paitan soup. A single life transforms with each dish presented at the table. This progression itself is the meaning of this course. (Contents may vary depending on the season and availability.)
Please note that the chicken course is not shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). Why does a temple serve meat? The answer lies in the words of the head priest.
"Recognizing the dignity of life and receiving it with gratitude" — the words of the head priest
Head priest Hironobu Tamagawa speaks about food as follows:
"To live, we take lives and transform them into our own energy. This is the natural law of the jungle. However, I believe that by not just taking lives indiscriminately, but by recognizing their dignity and receiving them with gratitude, we can live more meaningful days. Our bodies are built upon many lives, and our hearts are built upon many thoughts."
Avoiding meat is not the only way to cherish life. Cooking an entire bird without waste and confronting each dish is also a form of respect for life. Shorekiji's dinner quietly poses this question, along with its deliciousness.
Another evening: Creative shojin ryori full course
For dinner, you can also choose a creative shojin ryori full course, which offers a modern twist on traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. Starting with freshly made yuba and shojin soup, it features Shorekiji's special appetizer plate, tempura, ratatouille, and even mapo tofu rolls, presenting a menu that gently reinterprets the 'must-haves' of shojin ryori. (Contents may vary depending on the season and seasonal ingredients.)
You can consult with us about which course to choose even after booking. There is no additional charge for changing your dinner menu. For consecutive night stays, you can enjoy both the shojin ryori and chicken courses on separate evenings.
The head priest guides a personalized experience for each group
Shorekiji's charm extends beyond its cuisine. The head priest acts as a dedicated guide, helping you choose and experience activities that suit you from a variety of options. Confronting the act of "receiving life" at the dining table, and discovering experiences that resonate with you during your time at the temple—this seamless stay is unique to a temple hotel that hosts only one group per day. The types of experiences and how to choose them will be detailed in another article.
Temple time before and after dinner
Guests who wish can experience ringing the evening bell with a monk before dinner. After dinner, on a clear night, you can enjoy gazing at the starry sky in the dimly lit temple grounds. The next morning, after the morning service, you will be served a breakfast set featuring local rice and vegetables, and fish and salt from a neighboring town. The tableware consists of lacquerware passed down through generations at Shorekiji, beautifully restored with lacquer. If the season and weather permit, you can also dine on the deck amidst the mountain air.
The tea sweets upon arrival and dinner dessert are provided by local partner "Goodies." It's a stay where you can savor the very essence of Ayabe through its culinary connections.
Things to know before booking
Number of guests: 1 group per day, maximum 6 people (one group uses the entire 100-year-old guest hall, approximately 40 tatami mats)
Meal-inclusive plan: The standard plan (from 40,000 JPY per person) includes a temple experience led by the head priest, dinner, and breakfast.
Meals cannot be added separately: The room-only plan does not include meals, so if you wish to enjoy Kurohime Shamo or creative shojin ryori, please book a meal-inclusive plan.
Allergies/dietary restrictions: Please inform us via the check-in form after booking.
Check-in / Check-out: 15:00-18:00 / 10:00
Access: From JR Kyoto Station, take the San-in Line to Ayabe Station, then about a 5-minute taxi ride from the station. By car, about 10 minutes from Ayabe IC or Kyotamba-Wachi IC (free parking available).
Prices vary depending on the date and number of guests. Please check availability and prices via the booking button on the Shorekiji page.
https://oterastay.com/stay/shourekiji/
When the purpose of your trip shifts from "where to go" to "what to savor," a night at Shorekiji will surely become a special memory.