Myōō-in, Buddhist temple and shukubō in Kōya, Japan
Myōō-in is a Buddhist temple on Mount Kōya in Japan that also operates as a shukubō, a lodging where visitors can stay overnight within a working religious site. The grounds include prayer halls, a traditional Japanese garden, and separate bathing facilities for men and women.
The temple dates back to the 9th century, when the monk Kūkai established Mount Kōya as the main center of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. The site has been part of the religious community on the mountain ever since, welcoming practitioners and travellers over many generations.
Guests at the temple can attend the morning prayer service held by the resident monks, which gives a direct sense of daily religious life on Mount Koya. Those who wish can also try sutra copying, a slow and meditative practice of tracing classical Buddhist texts by hand.
The temple is located in the mountain town of Kōya, which is reached by train and cable car from the valley below. Guests staying overnight should plan to arrive in the early afternoon, as the evening rituals begin at a set time and the gates close early.
The temple is one stop on a pilgrimage route that links 36 sacred sites across the Kinki region, so many visitors who pass through are active pilgrims rather than tourists. It also hosts regular fire ceremonies, known as goma, in which wooden sticks are burned as offerings to carry prayers forward.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
