Spend a night at a Japanese temple

“Rather than booking a hotel, I opted to stay at one of the shukubo lodgings run by the temple community. It felt like stepping into a different era. Here’s what the experience was like: •The setting: As I arrived just before sunset, the sound of temple bells echoed through the quiet streets. The air smelled faintly of incense. Everything felt calm, timeless. •The room: Tatami mats, sliding shoji doors, no television or distractions. Minimalist but deeply relaxing. •Dinner: I was served shojin ryori (traditional Buddhist vegan cuisine). No meat, no garlic or onions – but the flavors were delicate and profound. Honestly, it was one of the best meals I had in Japan. •Morning ceremony: At 5:30am, I joined the monks in their morning chanting ritual inside the main hall. The sound of sutras being chanted in unison while candlelight flickered in the background—it was one of the most moving experiences of my trip.”

“Arriving at the temple, we first take off our shoes, step up onto the raised floor of the building, and put on inside slippers. We are greeted by a monk, who gives us a tour, explaining about the onsen bath and where the dining room, restrooms, and prayer rooms are located. It is an old wooden temple building, with squeaky, yet shiny wooden floors. After walking along the engawa hallway between the outside walls with sliding windows and the raised interior rooms, we are shown into tatami mat rooms. This is where we will spend the night. Futons will be laid out for us on the floor while we eat our dinner. Our tatami rooms are basic and separated by sliding paper fusuma doors. There will be no secrets among us this night! The toilets down the hall are shared communally — one room for men and one for women.”