Koyasan Temple Stay: My Experience at Ekoin (Is It Worth It?)
If you’re looking for a peaceful escape from Japan’s busy cities, spending a night at a Buddhist temple in Koyasan (Mount Koya) is one of the most unique and memorable experiences you can have.
We stayed at Ekoin Temple, one of the most popular temples in Koyasan offering overnight stays, and I’m so glad we made the trip!
In this post, I will walk you through what our stay at Ekoin Temple was like, from the meals to the meditation sessions to the morning prayer, and help you decide whether a Koyasan temple stay is worth it for your Japan itinerary.
My Koyasan Temple Stay Experience at Ekoin
We stayed at Ekoin Temple for one night and paid $323.72 USD for the most basic room option (which was the Compact Japanese-Style Room).
That might sound steep for a one-night stay, but it includes dinner, breakfast, a meditation session, morning prayer ceremony, and a fire ritual.
Plus you’re staying in a Buddhist temple in the mountains of Japan – pretty epic!
We booked 6 months in advance, and I highly recommend booking early (at least 3 months in advance) since Ekoin Temple fills up fast, especially during high season (March through November).
Below, I will walk you through how we spent our one night stay at Ekoin Temple!
4:30 PM – 5:10 PM: Meditation Session Led by a Monk (Free)
Each day at 4:30 PM, Ekoin offers a free Ajikan meditation session led by one of the monks.
It lasts around 40 minutes and is open to all overnight guests.
The monk leading our session explained the history of Ajikan meditation before guiding us through it.
We sat on small floor cushions (chairs are available if needed) and focused on deep breathing.
It was a peaceful way to start our day, especially after the 3 hour journey here from Osaka.
If possible, try to check in before 4:30 PM so you have time to settle in and participate in the meditation session.
It was a cool experience, especially for someone like me who had never meditated before.
5:30 PM: Traditional Shokin Ryori Dinner (Included)
After meditation, dinner is brought directly to your room.
Around 5:30 PM, the staff called our room to confirm we were ready for dinner, then brought everything in and set it up in our room.
When we were done eating, we called the front desk, and they returned to clean it up. Eating the meal in our room was a cool experience!
The meal follows a monk’s diet (shojin ryori), which means no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, garlic, or onions.
You are served several trays full of beautifully presented vegetarian dishes, many of which I didn’t recognize. I do wish they provided labels or a menu so we could know what each dish was, but it was fun to try everything.
I will admit, I am a picky eater, so I didn’t love all the dishes. I would recommend packing a few snacks just in case you’re still hungry after dinner.
There are a couple of restaurants nearby and a Family Mart convenience store about a mile away if you want to purchase snacks.
You can walk or take the local bus there.
7:00 PM – 8:20 PM: Okunoin Cemetery Night Tour (Additional Fee)
One of the highlights of our stay was the Okunoin Cemetery Night Tour.
This is not affiliated with Ekoin temple, but one of the monks from Ekoin actually led our tour (who also did our meditation session) so that was neat!
Okunoin is Japan’s largest and most sacred cemetery. It is the resting place of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism.
At night, the lantern-lit paths make it feel peaceful, and the stories shared by the monk were fascinating.
We booked our tour in advance (about 2 months before) and paid around $33.85 USD per person.
When we arrived in Koyasan, I saw a sign saying the tour was sold out for the night, so booking in advance is a good idea!
The tour lasted about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the meeting point was right outside Ekoin Temple which made it super convenient.
The tour ends at the furthest point in the cemetery, and then you can walk back to your temple or take the bus. It took about 25 to 30 minutes to walk back.
If you’re staying somewhere other than Ekoin, double check if your temple has a curfew, some temples do lock their doors by 9:00 PM so you might not be able to participate in the night tour.
Ekoin Temple has no curfew, so we didn’t have to worry about that, thankfully!
You can book the Okunoin Cemetery Night Tour tickets here.
7:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Morning Prayer Ceremony (Free)
At 7:00 AM, Ekoin offers a morning prayer service in the main hall.
It is free to attend if you’re staying at the temple, and it gives you a glimpse into how monks perform their prayers.
It lasted about 30 minutes, and it was a very unique experience to watch.
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: Goma Fire Ritual (Free)
Directly after the morning prayer, around 7:30 AM, there is a Goma Fire Ritual, which lasts until 8:00 AM.
This was one of the coolest parts of our stay! The monks chant while wooden prayer sticks are burned in a sacred fire, meant to cleanse negative energies and send blessings.
In your room, there are wooden sticks where you can write a prayer to be burned during the ritual (for a small fee). There are more instructions in your room for this.
8:00 AM: Traditional Breakfast (Included)
After the rituals, breakfast is served in your room at 8:00 AM which is another shojin ryori meal with a variety of dishes.
Like dinner, it is beautifully presented with a wide spread of food!
Our Room at Ekoin Temple
We booked the Compact Japanese-Style Room (the most basic and cheapest option) with a shared bathroom.
Even though it was the cheapest room, it still cost $323.72 USD for one night.
But considering everything that’s included, I think it was worth it!
The room had tatami mat floors, a low table to sit at, and mattresses on the floor (that were set up for you after dinner).
It was cozy and surprisingly comfortable to sleep on!
We had a large window overlooking the temple grounds which made it feel even more peaceful.
The shared bathrooms were very clean as well. There were two sinks and one toilet at the end of the hall, plus separate bathing areas for men and women with Japanese-style baths.
In the bathing areas, there were several showers as well as one hot communal bath (similar to an onsen).
Note: You must be fully nude to enter the bath, which can feel intimidating if you’re not used to it.
Other Koyasan Temple Stays
If Ekoin is fully booked or you’re looking for a more affordable option, there are several other Koyasan temple stays to choose from:
- Fukuchi-in – Known for its peaceful garden views.
- Shojoshin-in – Right next to Okunoin Cemetery. A great choice if your focus is on exploring the cemetery.
- Kongo Sanmai-in – A smaller temple in a quieter area.
- Henjoson-in – Comfortable rooms and good meals, central location.
Each temple has its own feel and amenities. Be sure to check whether they have curfews if you plan to do any evening activities like the Okunoin Cemetery Night Tour.
Other Things to Do in Koyasan
In addition to the temple stay, Koyasan is a beautiful place to explore.
Here are a few other things to do in Koyasan to check out during your visit if you have the time:
- Okunoin Cemetery (during the day): Even if you do the night tour, walk through the cemetery during the day too. The moss-covered graves and cedar trees are beautiful to see in the daylight.
- Kongobu-ji Temple: This is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism and is home to Japan’s largest rock garden.
- Danjo Garan Temple Complex: This sacred site includes a collection of temples and pagodas, including the stunning Konpon Daito Pagoda which is one of Koyasan’s most popular landmarks.
- Reihokan Museum: This museum has Buddhist statues, scrolls, and artwork from temples in the area.
- Walk Around the Town: Koyasan is small and easy to explore on foot. You will find little shops, cafes, and places to pick up food or a souvenir.
Getting to Koyasan from Osaka
We traveled from Osaka to Koyasan using public transportation, and it took about three hours in total.
Here’s how we got to Koyasan from Osaka:
- Took the Nankai-Koya Line from Namba Station to Hashimoto Station
- Transfered to a local train on the same line to Gokurakubashi Station
- Took the cable car from Gokurakubashi up to Koyasan Station
- At Koyasan Station, we took the 41 Koyasannai Line bus to Karukayado-Mae (the closest stop to Ekoin)
All parts of the trip accepted Suica (or other IC cards), which made it super easy.
I used Google Maps for the directions, and it was easy to use and very accurate. I highly recommend using that instead of Apple Maps while in Japan.
Apple Maps was not as detailed and not as accurate in my experience.
Conclusion: Is it Worth Paying for a Koyasan Temple Stay?
Yes, I think it is absolutely worth paying the extra money for a Koyasan temple stay experience.
It was peaceful, educational, and totally different from the rest our Japan trip.
After spending time in crowded cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, Koyasan was a refreshing change of pace. It was cooler and less humid due to being up in the mountains and quieter.
If you’re looking to slow down and experience a more traditional side of Japan, a Koyasan temple stay should definitely be on your itinerary!
Check out my other Japan blog posts to help you plan your Japan itinerary!
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